STOCK UP AT RAINBOW AND EARN EXTRA MONEY FOR MANN If you shop at Rainbow Foods between 9/16 and 9/29, you can earn money for Mann.  By purchasing 10 Box Tops items (Kleenex tissues, Cheerios, Yoplait Go-Gurt, Pop Secret popcorn, Nature Valley granola bars etc, etc), you can earn $5.00 for Horace Mann.  Purchase of 15 Box Tops items is worth $10.00 to Mann and 20 items nets Mann $17.00!  We all need groceries and this is an easy way to make a contribution to Mann.  For a complete listing of box tops products, visit www.boxtops4education.com. The summer drive for Box Tops will continue through the end of Sept.  Each student was given five envelopes during the last week of school and asked to request friends, family and neighbors save Box Tops for Mann.  Our goal is 50 Box Tops donated by each family.  Target gift cards ($10) will be awarded to the top earner in each grade.  If you want your child to be credited, make sure their name and current grade is written on the back of the envelope.  Need extra envelopes?  There are some available in the office. Contact your friends, family and neighbors and ask them to send in their envelopes to Mann!

Haunted House Planning Meeting Has to Be Rescheduled The planning meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m. in the library has to be rescheduled. The building will be closing early that evening as custodians have to attend a safety training. Please look for new details coming soon.

Horace Mann Library Volunteers Sought Looking for an easy way to help out at school?  Spend an hour each week helping process books for students during scheduled classroom sessions in the library.  Morning hours are available.  It's a great way to get to know students, staff and other volunteers.  Please contact Tracy Taubert (651-699-2188, tracerph@aol.com) if you'd like to help. Wednesday, Sept. 26 • 6:30-8 p.m.

Happy 125^th Birthday to the Saint Paul Public Library Come celebrate with the Saint Paul Public Library and the Schubert Club on Sunday, September 30^th. There’s a Children’s Storybook Parade on 4^th Street at noon. Other free festivities take place from 1 to 5 p.m. Visit www.sppl.org or www.schubert.org for details.

G/T Education 101 for Elementary School Parents What should you expect from a school when your child is identified as gifted? How can you best advocate to make sure those expectations are met? Join us for a discussion with Gail Pattison, Gifted Services Coach, Saint Paul Public Schools on Wednesday, September 26 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. (Note: Parents from all school systems are invited!) Location: Webster Magnet School Cafeteria, 707 Holly Ave., St. Paul.

Online Resources for Student/Parent Home Use 2007-2008 Saint Paul Public Schools’ Department of Educational Technology offers a number of free and subscribed websites. You can find a link under Resources on the Horace Mann website, mann.spps.org or you can use the attached sheets.

Geckler Fall Fundraiser The annual fall fundraiser is taking place right now. Your students should have brought home a packet last week. The fundraiser ends next Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. It is a great opportunity to purchase quality gifts and food items, while supporting our school at the same time.

Student/Parent Directory …Want an extra copy? The directory will be ready to go to the printer next week.  We will be calling any families that appear to be missing from the directory to confirm if that is their intention.  If you are a new to Horace Mann and aren’t sure of what the directory looks like, you can ask to see one in the office.  We will be including email addresses this year if they were provided on the consent form.  (There have been a lot of requests!).  We will be providing one directory for each student.  If a family would like to have an extra copy, we are happy to oblige for a small donation of $1.  For questions or to request extra copies, please don’t hesitate to contact before Thur, Sept 27, parents Paul Johnson (651-695-9853, pjohnson@goldengate.net) or Karen Aune (651-690-2260, danaune2001@yahoo.com).

The Art of Giving Schools across the country are getting children as young as kindergartners and preschoolers involved in service learning— a blend between community service and expanded instruction. Many service learning advocates feel that by helping others, children can learn responsibility, build character and citizenship, and discover the special joys of giving. Clearly, with benefits like these, it’s no wonder that more and more schools are making service learning part of the curriculum. That’s why our PTA has chosen “The Art of Giving” for our theme in this year’s family events and activities. But for it to really have an impact on children, it must be equally encouraged at home.

Go outside of your regular areas of interest For many families, the core of their charitable involvement is their church, temple, or mosque. If that’s the case in your household, look around for occasional ways that you can step in to help others as well. “Giving times two” can help children grow up to be even more dedicated to helping others.

Use the news, but in moderation. Many children respond enthusiastically but very emotionally to crises, like hurricanes and other disasters. They hear about them on the news and feel the need to help. Talk with them about ways that they might be able to help—from making homemade cards for victims to participating in a charity drive.

Upcoming Events