Dear Horace Mann families,

I’m writing this letter to give you the most accurate and up-to-date information I can regarding recent reports of a man who has been seen taking pictures around our school and near Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

Our students and their families alertly notified school officials when they saw a man taking pictures on the playground after school hours. School officials identified the man and verified that he hadn’t harmed any students. The incident was reported to the police department.

This note is also an opportunity for me to thank the families that saw this situation and immediately reported what happened. I also want to thank you for your support of our school and our students. Your help in ensuring our students’ success is priceless. Along that vein, I want to remind you that if your student mentions anything that you think needs addressing at our school, please let our staff members know.

Here are some reminders and tips on how students can be safe as they walk to school or wait for the bus:

• Go directly to the bus stop or school. Don't stop anywhere that you have not talked about with your family.
• Walk or wait with other students in the neighborhood when it is possible.
• Along the way to school or the bus stop, identify safe, public locations or friendly neighbors where students can go to if they ever are worried about their safety.
• If children see anything suspicious, they should report it to an adult right away. It is always helpful if they can remember descriptions of people, cars or license plates, but your children's safety comes first.
• Never accept a ride from anyone if you have not first talked about it with your family.

As always, if you have any questions regarding this or any other subject at our school, feel free to call me at 651-293-8965.

Parents of Gifted and Talented Students Last year families expressed an interest in starting a support group. This fall there were a few opportunities for families: a Minnesota Council for Gifted and Talented meeting at Webster and the National Association for Gifted Children conference. We would like to hold a meeting to begin the group at Horace Mann. Our initial goal is to determine how we can help each other meet the needs of our diverse students. Any interested parents are invited to attend. The meeting will be held on Thursday, December 6 at 6:00 p.m.

PTA Committee Update: Horace Mann School will not be participating in the BRAVO music program this year due to low volunteer support.  If you are interested in seeing this program happen next year, please contact volunteer coordinator, Danica Linssen at dlinssen@yahoo.com before May 1st, 2008.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! We would like to thank each of the Horace Mann School families and friends who supported the Geckler Fall Fundraiser with their energy, time and money.  Many people took time out of their busy schedule to get support from family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.  A special thanks to Deanna Olson for organizing and running this profitable fundraiser and helping us to meet our 2007-2008 budget goals! Horace Mann School PTA Officers

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!  We would like to thank the following parents for volunteering their time at the Ice Cream Social and Geckler product pick up:  Jean Schroeder, Alida Purmalietis, Stacy Paleen, Barb Dolven, Brigid and Jeff Karelitz, Kris Johnston, Cathy Paper and Martha Faust as well as several Horace Mann School students.  This celebration of Fall Fundraiser success would not have happened without your commitment to volunteering! Horace Mann School PTA Officers

Lost and found items will be out during conferences. Many beautiful jackets, sweatshirts and hats are waiting to be claimed by their owners. Take a minute to check the tables by the office and see if any of the clothing looks familiar!  You will be astonished at the large quantity of clothing items just waiting to be picked up and brought home again. All items left in Lost and Found will be donated to Goodwill after conferences in November, so be sure to check for your child's belongings!

Horace Mann PTA is conducting a recycling fundraiser with nothing to buy. We are simply asking you to protect the environment by donating your used cellular phones and ink jet cartridges.  Your used items may be tax deductible (consult the tax code or your tax advisor) and will be recycled in accordance with EPA regulations or refurbished and sold. 100% of the proceeds will help fund Horace Mann PTA.  The collection will continue through the year. 

We are looking for the following:

• Cell phones with batteries.  The phones do not have to be in working order, but we get more money if they are.  There is no need to charge up the battery.  Do not include any accessories, such as chargers, cases, or headsets.  Phones are being recycled through www.ecophones.com.
• Ink jet cartridges.  The cartridges must not be cracked or broken and must never have been refilled.  Ink jet cartridges are being recycled through www.ecophones.com.  Ink jet cartridges fit into the palm of your hand.
• Laser jet toner cartridges.  Only certain toner cartridges are being collected.  To see if a toner cartridge qualifies please go to www.fundingfactory.com – the vendor we are recycling these through -- and click on Qualifying Lists.  Toner cartridges are large and bulky, usually about the size of a loaf of bread. 

The collection bin is located in the Horace Mann Office. We greatly appreciate your support!

Way to go to Students, Parents, and Staff who worked on the Haunted House Fundraiser A grand total of $3589.50 was raised to benefit the environmental education program and provide 6^th graders the opportunity to attend Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center! This is the culminating event for every Horace Mann student when they reach 6^th grade!

Catch the Spirit Get your Horace Mann spirit wear.  Order Forms are being sent home this week and are due back by WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21st.  Orders will be received by mid-December, in time for winter break.  Send order form and check made out to HORACE MANN PTA with your child to school or drop them off in the office.  Any questions, contact Karen Aune at 651-690-2260 or email danaune2001@yahoo.com

October Boxtops counts are here! Congratulations to Mr. Nelson's fifth graders who finished first in the BoxTops collection during October.  Together they collected $23.40 worth of BoxTops!  Another job well done fifth graders.  Honors for second place go to Ms. Korteum's fourth graders who collected $9.50

Horace Mann students enjoyed a field trip to the Ordway to view Chinese dance by the Lily Cai group.

and Ms Muehlenbeck's first graders were in third place with a respectable $8.90.  Thank you Horace Mann families for all your efforts.

Summer BoxTops Winners! Many Horace Mann students collected Box Tops over the summer and asked friends and family to do the same.  The top earning student in each grade has earned a $10 gift card to Target.

• First grade: Miranda W. (241 box tops)
• Second grade: Jack I. (136 box tops)
• Third grade: Nathan M. (140 box tops)
• Fourth grade: Ethan A. (92 box tops)
• Fifth grade and overall winner for the largest number of Box Tops: Molly M. with a whopping 573 box tops.  Molly has won a $25 gift card for her efforts.

Thanks to everyone who participated.  Your efforts help support Horace Mann in many ways.

Save Paper and Money Are you interested in helping Horace Mann spend less money on paper and save a few trees? Horace Mann spends about $2300 a year on paper for classroom assignments and notes to parents like this one. Other schools print these materials on re-used paper. We can too. All we need are some businesses willing to donate their paper to Horace Mann. Why not look around your place of work and see whether there is paper which has already been printed on one side which can be donated to Horace Mann? If you need help transporting the paper, the Environmental Committee is available to help. Contact Nancy Wagner at nancyjwagner@comcast.net or 698-6783.

Congratulations to the Geckler Fundraiser Prizewinners

This year our Geckler fundraiser raised almost $8,000. Our top three fundraisers in order were Elizabeth S., Amelia K., and Jimmy M. All three will be invited to lunch as my treat. Elizabeth will also be first in line at lunch with a friend for a month. Other student winners were:

• Alex L.- Cash cage
• Julia C.- MP4 player
• Sulley C.- 2 tickets to the Twins, Children’s Theater, or Valleyfair
• Emma- Tickets to Park at the MOA
• Jimmy M.- Early Bird $25 winner

Family Service Project Opportunity Send a card and make an American Serviceperson's day brighter. When filling out your Holiday cards this year maybe you could add one or two more...Address cards to-

A recovering American Soldier; c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center; 6900 Georgia Avenue NW; Washington, DC    20307-5001

For Your Fridge "What did you do in school today? Here’s a simple way parents and guardians can check in with their child and show that they care about school. Ask one or two of these questions every day.

Tell me about…

• A book (story) you read today.
• Math problems you did today, one that was easy and one that was hard.
• A question you asked today.
• A connection you made today.
• Something that made you laugh today.
• Something you wrote today.
• A spelling strategy you used today.
• A highlight of your day.
• Something that surprised you today.
• How you were successful on your own today.
• Something new you learned today.
• What you are looking forward to learning tomorrow.

When parents show an interest in what their children learn, children will have an interest in learning!

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