Thursday, December 18, 2014

Lucas Students Invited to Submit Original Writing

Student submission process for 2015 One Book Two Book
Students in grades 1-8 in Corridor area school districts are encouraged to submit one page of writing to the One Book Two Book Children's Literature Festival. This can be anything: story, essay, poem, song lyric, graphic novel page, etc. The piece must be an original work, written this school year, in polished form – ready for publication. It should be on one side of an 8.5×11 page. The student’s name should be in the top right corner of the piece. 
On the separate Student Submission Cover Form the following information is required:
Student name, grade, school, age as of March 8, 2015, parent or guardian’s name and contact e-mail and phone number. Download the form here.
Student work, including the cover sheet, must be submitted to John Kenyon with the City of Literature by Jan. 9, 2015.They can be mailed to City of Literature, 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City, IA 52240; or e-mailed as an MSWord attachment or PDF to john@cityofliteratureusa.org.
The student work will be judged by a team from Pearson in Iowa City. Recognized students will be honored at a special “Write Out Loud” event on Sunday, March 8, 2015. Two grade level winners will be chose, one in each of the following categories:
  • “The Write Stuff”: For language, clarity, structure, and emotional impact.
  • “From the Heart”: For creativity, passion, and expressiveness.
These students will be invited to read their winning submissions at the March 8 event.
In addition, a percentage of all students whose submissions are deemed to be of outstanding quality also will be honored with a “certificate of distinction.” They also will be invited to attend the March 8 event to receive their certificates.All recognized students will receive certificates and prizes at the event. All also will be eligible to receive randomly drawn prizes that are donated and presented by community leaders. The grade-level prize winners will have their work published in a booklet available at the festival.
Questions? Contact John Kenyon with the City of Literature office at (319) 356-5245 or john@cityofliteratureusa.org
One Book Two Book: March 6-8, 2015

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Updated dates for Lucas Support Group

To Lucas Elementary School parents and guardians of a child with special needs: 

You are invited to a new monthly drop-in support group.
* talk with fellow Lucas parents and guardians
* share parenting ideas
* share parenting challenges
* get support for you
* celebrate our kids’ successes
* led by Lucas parents Martha Fountain and Renée Speh

Where: temporary building on north side of Lucas
When: 8:30-9:30 am
December 19
January 16
February 20
March 13
April 17
May 15
Special needs includes attention deficit disorders (ADD/ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), intellectual disabilities, physical challenges, autism spectrum disorders, mental illness, and others
Contact: Renée Speh (parent) 351-9279 reneespeh@gmail.com or Melissa Barron (teacher) 688-1140 melissa.barron@iowacityschools.org
_________________________________________________________________________
Padres y guardianes de estudiantes de Lucas Elementary que tienen una necesidad especial:

Están invitados a un nuevo grupo de apoyo que se reúne mensualmente.

* Hable con otros padres y guardianes de la comunidad de Lucas
* Comparta ideas sobre la crianza de los hijos
* Encuentre apoyo para usted mismo
* Celebre los éxitos de nuestros hijos
* El grupo está facilitado por padres de Lucas Martha Fountain y Renée Speh

Dónde: El edificio temporal en el lado norte de Lucas
Cuándo: , 8:30-9:30 de la mañana

Las necesidades especiales incluyen asuntos de déficit de atención, discapacidades intelectuales, desafíos físicos, discapacidades del espectro autista, enfermedad mental, y otras más.
Contacte: Renée Speh (madre) 351-9279 reneespeh@gmail.com o
Melissa Barron (maestra) 688-1140 melissa.barron@iowacityschools.org

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

A Year with Frog and Toad Opens December 12


Lucas PTO is partnering with the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts!  It's easy: you buy tickets to the show with the code LUCAS and our PTO gets 10% of the ticket cost as a donation.

More details and the link to order tickets are available here: Lucas Frog and Toad Fundraiser

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Lucas Night at Iowa Women's Basketball December 11



Join other Lucas families to cheer on the Hawkeyes as they face the Iowa State Cyclones on Thursday, December 11.  The game starts at 7:00pm and doors at Carver-Hawkeye Arena open at 6:00pm. 

Lucas Elementary will be recognized during the game!

Lucas students receive FREE admission to the game!

Parents, teachers, and other adult guests may purchase tickets at the discounted rate of $5 (normally $12).  Additional youth tickets (18 and under) are FREE. 

Members of the Iowa Women's Basketball team visited Lucas for an assembly on December 2nd. 

Please place your ticket orders ahead of time by calling the UI Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-IA-HAWKS or by completing the flyer that was sent home with students. 

Ticket order form must be returned to school by December 10th to print tickets at home. 

Go Hawks!

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Lucas Student Council is Collecting for Cassie's Mittens

Lucas Student Council is working again this year to collect new or gently used; hats, mittens, gloves or scarves for children of all ages. This event, called Cassie’s Mittens, is in memory of a former ICCSD student who was known for giving her gloves or mittens to kids that were cold during recess. Her family was unaware that she was giving them away and wondered why she continually needed to replace them. Tragically Cassie was killed in a car accident when she was just in elementary school.
Donations will be collected in the main office and labeled collection boxes throughout the school, then put on display here at Lucas until Dec. 17. After that, one of Cassie’s relatives  who has continued the event in her honor will be giving the winter gear to kids in need. Thanks in advance for your generosity!  
----Lucas Student Council

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Parent Support Group Begins Nov 21st at Lucas

To Lucas Elementary School parents and guardians of a child with special needs:
You are invited to a new monthly drop-in support group.
  • talk with fellow Lucas parents and guardians
  • share parenting ideas
  • share parenting challenges
  • get support for you
  • celebrate our kids’ successes
  • led by Lucas parents

Where: temporary building on north side of Lucas
When: November 21 from 8:30-9:30 am
Special needs includes attention deficit disorders, oppositional defiant disorder, intellectual disabilities, physical challenges, autism spectrum disorders,  mental illness, and others
Contact:
Renee Speh (parent) 351-9279 renee.speh@childrenscenterfortherapy.org
or

Melissa Barron (teacher) 688-1140 melissa.barron@iowacityschools.org

Monday, November 17, 2014

We want your feedback on PTO fundraising!

Please take a moment to complete this 4 question survey to help the PTO plan for future fundraising activities:

Make a Mighty Difference Survey

Thanks for your support of Lucas!

Friday, November 14, 2014

An invitation to Be Our Guest at Cub Scout Pack 215

Cub Scout Pack 215: Be Our Guest this December

                  It’s our birthday!  We have been a pack for 50 years.  To celebrate, we are inviting all interested boys in 1st through 5th grade to try out Cub Scouts as a guest of our pack in December.  For most meetings, we gather weekly at 6:30 in the Lucas Multipurpose Room on Wednesday nights for about an hour. 
                  Our first meeting (Dec. 3) will be den meetings.  Here, scouts break into their dens (grades) to work on meeting their goals to “achieve rank”, which is Tiger for 1st graders, Wolf for 2nd graders, Bear for 3rd graders, and WeBeLos for 4th-5th graders.  Our second meeting (Dec. 10) will be caroling, a service project, at the Legacy Point nursing home.  Service projects are an important part of scouting tradition and this year our pack has collected food for food banks, cleaned up trash around the school, and started working on a Little Lending Library for Lucas Elementary.  Our final meeting for the month (Dec. 17) will be a pack meeting.  In these meetings, scouts perform a flag ceremony and are awarded with badges, belt loops, and pins to mark their progress in the program.
                  Cub Scouts in a family-oriented program that encourages positive interactions between our scouts and their parents.  We hope you consider trying it out in December.  Find us on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/108276392527668/

                                                                                              Do your best!
                                                                                              Joel Graff
                                                                                              Pack 215 Committee Chair


Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Scholastic Book Fair set for November 11 and 12 with story time and book talks



It's Book Fair Time!



The SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR will be held
 IN THE MULTIPURPOSE ROOM

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, from 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
&
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Tuesday night, November 11, from 5:30-7:30 PM is a special event called “Sweets & Stories.” There will be a story time from 6:30-6:45 for K-2 grade students and book talks from 7:00-7:15 for 3-6 grade students. There will also be cookies available all evening! Please feel free to wear your pajamas if you like! This event is open to all Lucas families, and no purchase is required. Many thanks to Ann Campion, John & Mary Kenyon, Laurie Wyatt, and our Lucas staff for their help with this event. 

Wednesday the fair is open all day during conference hours, from 8:00-4:00. Students are welcome to attend with a parent.  

For those who are unable to attend in person but want to place an order, an order form is available. Order and payment need to be received by 3:00 PM on Tuesday, November 10.  Make checks payable to Lucas Elementary.  There will be a much larger selection at the actual fair. 

YOU CAN ALSO SHOP ONLINE! Go to http://tinyurl.com/lucasfallfair2014. Please note that we receive ONE shipment for all online orders that will arrive a couple of weeks after the fair.***

Thank you for supporting this Lucas Library fundraiser. See you there!

Mrs. Connie McCain, Lucas Librarian

Monday, November 3, 2014

Thanks for Making A Mighty Difference for Lucas in 2014



Make a Mighty Difference 2014 raises $9,365

A surge in October donations brought Make a Mighty Difference to $9,365 in total donations for Lucas PTO by our extended deadline of October 24th. Well done!

Lucas PTO wishes to thank everyone in the extended Lucas family- students, staff, parents, neighbors, grandparents- that made this possible.
Thanks to your contribution, Lucas PTO will once again fund activities like Visiting Author events, Field Trips, School of the Wild, Recess Equipment, Kindergarten T-shirts, Free Family Night, and the Sixth Grade Memory Book.

With the fall fundraiser behind us let's all make it another great year at Lucas.  Find out other ways you can make a difference at Lucas through the PTO website.

Box Top Redemption Totals $922.60




Thanks to all the Lucas families to saved Box Tops for Education.  Lucas should be getting a check for $ 922.60 in a few weeks!  That is 9,226 box tops!

The winners to the classroom competitions were as follows:

Between Kindergarten/ 1st grade / SCC: Teresa Smith's class came in with 532!
Between 2nd / 3rd: Tres Brown's class came in with 957!
Between 4th / 5th / 6th : Mike Moore's class came in with 945!



Each winning class will have a party coming up soon. 

THANK YOU ALL for helping with counting many of them out and sending them in in bags of 50.  That helps Anna McComas out a ton with counting.  And speaking of thanks, a huge thank you to Anna for coordinating this on-going PTO fundraiser!


Keep saving those box tops because we will have another collection in the spring. 

Here are the other class results:  ELP - 306; BRUMWELL - 161; SANDERS - 256; S TURNQUIST - 216; HUMRICH - 406; KESSLER - 228; HILL - 740; T TURNQUIST - 681; HAACK - 420; MOEN - 436; RYAN - 583; ABELS - 69; GUGLIUZZA - 344; MARTIN - 433; WIELAND - 325; DOSTAL - 0; MEADE - 100



Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Holiday sale offers great gift ideas for Future Little Hawks on November 6th

Get a jumpstart on your holiday gift list with the Little Hawks Club annual Holiday Sale!
  • The Holiday sales event will be held next Thursday, November 6th in the gym foyer at City High from 4 – 7 pm. Credit cards, cash or check are welcome.
  • Apparel items will be for sale, along with umbrellas and a very limited number of seat backs.
  • The online store will be opening by the end of the week. There are a few new things that we have added including Nike fitted hats, sweatshirt blankets, polo shirts, and sweatpants to name a few. Online sales will be available through Nov. 16th, and delivery of those items will be on December 18th at City High. 
  • Proceeds benefit the Southeast Junior High and City High Athletic program. 

Monday, October 20, 2014

Free Halloween Events in the Community this Weekend!






If you are looking to get more mileage out of your Halloween costumes this year, check out the details for two free community events coming up this weekend. Both events are free and open to all Lucas students and their families!

Friday, October 24th, 6:15pm-8pm: Iowa City Rec Center Halloween Parade and Party

Sunday, October 26th, 1-4pm: Trick or Treat with the Greeks

Happy Halloween!

Friday, October 17, 2014

Let's Finish Strong with Make a Mighty Difference!

Dear Lucas community,

Thanks to you, PTO has received $8,650 in donations to directly support educational enrichment at Lucas Elementary! 

We're approaching our goal of $10,000 but still need every contribution we can get, big or small, in order to get there by our deadline of October 24th.
Why the urgency? 

Many of the things, big and small, that make our kids' education at Lucas Elementary such a great experience...Visiting Author events, Field Trips, School of the Wild, Recess Equipment, Kindergarten T-shirts, Free Family Night, and Sixth Grade Memory Book...are paid for in part or in whole by Lucas PTO.

And, these funds are raised without requiring you or your kids to sell anything!

Whether you give $5, $50 or $500, all of your donation will be put to good use.
On behalf of the Lucas kindergarteners who love their t-shirts, thank you to everyone who has already donated

If you haven't had the chance yet, consider leaving a donation at the Lucas office, or use this form to mail in a donation, or donate online at www.makeamightydifference.org
Thanks for your support of Lucas Elementary.

Ben Hill
Lucas parent

Friday, October 10, 2014

Two More Weeks to Make a Mighty Difference!

Two More Weeks to Make a Mighty Difference!

Dear Lucas community:

As of Friday October 10th, the Lucas PTO fall donation drive has raised $6,915 towards our goal of $10,000 to directly support classroom enrichment activities at Lucas Elementary.  That means we need to raise $3,000 over the next two weeks to hit our goal.  Let’s get as close as we can!

If you’re one of the awesome Lucas families that has already donated, thank you for your support.

Here’s a word from Lucas parent Sarah Galloway on why she supports PTO:

We support neighborhood schools.  We love that our family can walk to Lucas along with our neighbors and that our kids have access to the playground and garden all year long.  

We support the Lucas PTO because it enhances our daughters' educational experience and makes positive contributions to our neighborhood by fostering a sense of community. We are proud to be a part of this community by supporting Make a Mighty Difference.


If you haven’t yet had the opportunity to Make a Mighty Difference, please consider a contribution of any amount.  You can leave a cash or check donation at the Lucas office, or give online at MakeaMightyDifference.org

From now through Friday October 24th, donations of $5 or more will receive a free Lucas Mighty Hawk car window decal and donations of $25 or more will receive a Lucas Elementary T-shirt (while supplies last)

Let’s do this for Lucas!

Ben Hill
Lucas parent
baidanhill@gmail.com


Friday, October 3, 2014

More time to Make a Mighty Difference!


Make a Mighty Difference deadline extended to Friday October 24th!

As of October 1st, the Make a Mighty Difference fundraising campaign is at $6,330- so we're extending our deadline to Friday October 24th in order to try reach our goal of $10,000 to support educational enrichment at Lucas Elementary.  Three weeks and a few more contributions can make a world of difference!

Read here why Lucas parent Renee Speh supports Lucas PTO:

Our family loves Lucas Elementary.  Teachers shine when it comes to educating and supporting our children, one of whom has special needs. Our children have a fabulous opportunity to share experiences every day with children from all walks of life, and learn from their peers. The staff and teachers are receptive to trying out new ideas like the Prairie restoration and the school garden, and figuring out how to incorporate those learning opportunities for students. They bring in programs and people who enhance the classroom teaching.   We're committed to donating to Make a Mighty Difference and we invite you to as well!

Thanks to Renee Speh and Anthony Miller, and everyone else who has already donated!

If you haven't yet, you can bring a check or cash donation to the Lucas school office or donate online at makeamightydifference.org

From now until October 24th, give $5 or more and receive a Lucas window decal, or give $25 and receive a Lucas Mighty Hawks 50th Anniversary T-shirt (while supplies last).


Tuesday, September 30, 2014

City High Homecoming Parade Wednesday, October 1st

Come represent Lucas at the City High School Homecoming Parade!

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Meet at Mercer Park beginning at 5:00 (Look for Joe Pavelich and the DEED Dads). The parade begins at 6:00.

The parade route will go down First Avenue and end at Bates Field.  Kids can bring candy to distribute, poms to shake, and SPIRIT to SHARE.

All kids MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Lucas Spirit Gear Now On Sale!

Order your Lucas Spiritwear!

T-shirts, both short and long sleeved, as well as adult-sized hooded sweatshirts with a Lucas logo are available for purchase! Orders will be taken online at : Lucas Elementary Apparel.

Orders will be collected from Sunday, September 28- Sunday, October 12.
Place your order online by following the link: https://ugpogo.undergroundshirts.com/groupIndex.php?cart_id=3833

You pay online with a debit/credit card. No order forms to return, no payment to send to school. Just an online shopping experience!

Once the order is complete on October 12, the items will be printed and then delivered to you child in their classroom about 2 weeks later.

If you don’t have internet access at home you may visit the Lucas Office for assistance in placing your online order.

If you have questions, please contact Leslie Veit at 319-594-0752 or leslie.veit@gmail.com

Go Mighty Hawks!

Friday, September 26, 2014

Fall Fundraiser Sprints to 9/30/14 Goal



FALL FUNDRAISER SPRINTS TO 9/30/14 GOAL

Make a Mighty Difference has already raised $5,700 towards our goal of $10,000- but with September 30th just around the corner, we need the support of the entire Lucas family.  Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference!

This year our focus is on supporting educational enrichment, including cultural events and field trips. 

Read this testimonial from 2nd grade teacher Troy Turnquist and see what a difference your donation can make:

Thank you so much for funding the 2nd grade trip last winter to see "The Nutcracker" at the Englert Theatre in downtown Iowa City. It was a truly amazing experience for all of the students who attended to see a real life acting performance first hand. It was especially exciting because a student in my classroom, Shay LaVelle, was one of the star performers up on the stage! It was very cool for the kids to see a classmate of theirs up on the big stage!

When I had asked the children in my room how many of them had been to the Englert before, only about 20% of the kids said they had been there before. Many of our kids are on the free and reduced lunch program and their parents just don't have the extra money for these kinds of events.  Many of our kids simply enjoyed the bus ride down town as well.

I know my own 2 children at Lucas loved the field trips they have been able to go on such as The Wilson's Apple Orchard trip and the School of the Wild.  Thank you again for helping our kids here at Lucas make some great memories!

Please consider making a donation of any size today, if you haven't yet.  You can give a cash donation in the office, drop off a check payable to Lucas PTO, or donate online by credit or debit card at www.MakeAMightyDifference.org


And, THANK YOU! to everyone who has already given! The Donor Wall of Fame has an updated list. 

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Earn Money for Lucas with the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts!



The Lucas PTO is partnering with the CCPA to raise money for Lucas!  When you use the code LUCAS on your ticket orders for up-coming performances, CCPA will donate 10% of your ticket cost back to Lucas.  This includes the family-friendly productions of Xanadu, DiNO-Light, and A Year with Frog and Toad.  Don't you just love this kind of multi-tasking?

Check out the CCPA flyer for details about up-coming performances that are included in this promotion and a link to order tickets.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Make a Mighty Difference Hits Halfway Mark!



Make a Mighty Difference Hits Halfway Mark!

Make a Mighty Difference, our annual PTO fund drive, is on great pace with $4,680 towards our goal of raising $10,000 by September 30th!  Thanks to the following friends of Lucas for making a difference already:



This year, PTO is focusing its support on educational enrichment- one of our biggest (and most popular) investments is School of the Wild.  Fourth grade teacher Andrea Gugliuzza describes what makes this unique program special:

"Every year 4th graders spend a week at Lake MacBride Field Campus outside, in nature, learning about the woodlands and wetlands of Iowa. Students get to canoe at spider pond, build shelters testing their survival skills, tag birds, visit the spillway, identify wild flowers, and learn about edible plants to name a few of the great hands-on activities. Without the support of our PTO this memorable experience may not be possible."

If you haven't already had the opportunity to Make a Mighty Difference, please do so today.  Make a cash donation in the office, drop off a check payable to Lucas PTO, or donate online at MakeAMightyDifference.org


Saturday, September 13, 2014

Support Lucas and Run for the Schools





The Annual Run For The Schools is on Sunday, Oct. 19th.  There are 1/2 mile, 1 mile, 5K, 10K and 1/2 marathon races. All proceeds go to the Iowa City Community School District Foundation and then back into our schools!  The deadline for registration to get a t-shirt is Oct. 3.  There is a family package for 4 people for $50.  We will also be raffling off a free entry to the race and t-shirt at the Lucas Academic night on Sept 23.  

Registration flyers were sent home with students on Friday or information can be found at runfortheschools.com.

Lucas will also be sponsoring a water station during the race this year.  If this is more your speed, contact Sara Turnquist to volunteer. 


Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Informational Meeting: Foreign Language Programs in ICCSD Elementary Schools

Are any Lucas families interested in having after-school foreign language opportunities? The University is offering the following support: 

 Foreign Language Programs in ICCSD Elementary Schools
Informational Meeting, Tuesday, September 16

For ICCSD elementary parents wishing to start an extracurricular foreign language program, or parents in schools that already have one and want to collaborate or improve!

When: Tuesday, September 16, 2014, 7-8 pm
Where: Coralville Public Library, Meeting Room A (park in lower level)
What: We’ll discuss basics of how to organize and run a program, and we’ll give some ideas about good language instruction practices for elementary-aged students.

RSVP and Questions: Pam Wesely, University of Iowa College of Education

pamela-wesely@uiowa.edu(note unusual spelling) or 319-335-5261



Monday, September 8, 2014

Free Family Tailgate this Friday, September 12th

Lucas Elementary Family Tailgate

When:        Friday, September 12

Time:          5:00-6:30 PM

Where:       South Parking Lot of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
                     (located at the corner of Court St and First Avenue)


C:\Users\rrinde\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\9BQGT811\MC900078756[1].wmf

Come join us for free hot dogs, chips and lemonade before the City High Little Hawks take on the Ames Little Cyclones at Bates Field.

This event is sponsored by DEED (Dads Engaged in Engineering Dreams)

Contact Rob Rindels at 430-2962 or robrindels@gmail.com if you have any questions.

**All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian**

Friday, September 5, 2014

Great Start to Make a Mighty Difference 2014



Make a Mighty Difference, the annual Lucas PTO fund drive, is off to a great start this week with over $3,300 raised towards our goal of $10,000 by September 30th!  Thank you to the family and friends of Lucas who have made a difference already:

Nancy Cassady
Aprille Clarke & Dennis Crall
Amanda Goodrich
Erick Acevedo
Sarah & Kyle Galloway
Andrea Guggliuzza
Cate & Jason Burke
Nicole Haman
Sarah Holmes
Sarah & Andrew Lynch
Tara & Rodney Martin
Rossel Pagvada
Jerry Sayabath & La Phanthouvong
Ana McComas
Ben & Brooke Hill
Angela Ptacek
Joe & Jessica Pavelich
John & Mary Kenyon
Renee Speh &Anthony Miller
Dawn Fitzpatrick


This year, PTO is focusing its support on educational enrichment; one place where PTO has helped Lucas do things that would otherwise not be possible is outdoors.  

In the last two years, PTO added a natural playscape to the K-2 playground; re-developed the Lucas Prairie Patch; purchased and installed a new custom play structure on the 3-6 playground; and established Lucas Elementary's first vegetable garden.  These improvements not only make recess enjoyable but enhance our children's growth and learning.  Read this testimonial from Kindergarten teacher Sheral Jensen:

Creative play and discovery began immediately on the natural playscape.  Where once there was only asphalt, suddenly students began to play together on logs which became imaginary boats, bridges, and trains.  Students balanced on tree trunks one minute, then stopped to examine the bug trails beneath the peeling bark the next.  It seems that everyday there is a new discovery on our school's natural playscape.”

If you haven't already had the opportunity to Make a Mighty Difference, please do so today.  Make a cash donation in the office, drop off a check payable to Lucas PTO, or give online at MakeAMightyDifference.org