Overdue Library Books May 23rd is the district-wide due date for all library materials checked out to students. The library has already received some books which were inadvertently sent to the public library this week.  If your child is still receiving an overdue notice for a particular book, then your child needs to look carefully for that title at home and check the library shelves for it, also.  The library staff will check starting the week of May 27th for all unreturned books, however, it is a big help to resolve as much of this as possible before that time.  Letters will be sent home to parents on June 3rd asking for payment for missing library books. Please ask to see your child's overdue statements. Several will be going home in the next few weeks to alert your child to the books we think they still have and will need to return before summer break. Thank you.

Plant Sale Thank You by Kari Chase and Lois Johnson Thank you to all of you who purchased plants from the Horace Mann Plant Sale.  Remember to wait to plant.  The ground is not warm enough yet.  Thank you to all of the amazing volunteers who made this day such a success:  Karen Brelje, Cassandra Carter, Brian Chase, Joanne Hieder, Doug Kmoch, Amy Kortuem, Eileen O'Connell-Conzet, Charlie Pohl, Kristie Pohl, Mike Pohl, Ann Rutherford, Cathy Stewart, Michelle Thom.  We could not have done it without you!

Horace Mann Carnival Poster Contest! Horace Mann students are invited to enter a Carnival Poster Contest. Students must complete their own work independently at home and relate the poster to the 2008 carnival theme "Healthy Kids, Healthy World." If you would like to enter the contest, please pick up your poster board and contest rules in the office.  Posters must be completed and returned to the office no later than Monday, May 19th. Entrants will each receive 5 carnival tickets. Winners receive:

• 1st Place --15 carnival tickets and a raffle ticket
• 2nd Place --10 carnival tickets and a raffle ticket.

All tickets can be picked up at the ticket table the night of the Carnival. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 21st.  Questions: Contact Danica Linssen  djlinssen@yahoo.com or 651-698-1060.

Horace Mann S.T.E.P.S. lighter! Thank you to families who 'recycled' 200 POUNDS of shoes and boots! You saved 40 cubic feet of land fill space and donated 70 pairs to neighbors in need in our community.  A special thanks goes to Max K's mom, Kristie Ellickson, who ran this project!

Favorite Summer Activities and Books for Kids Interested in getting ideas for the summer? Challenged to keep your child engaged and excited? Then the next G/T Support Group Meeting, scheduled for May 12^th, 2008 at 6:15 in the library is for you. Come to the final meeting of the year with several book title suggestions and any summer activities you would like to share with the group.

Early Childhood Screening and Enrolling Pre-K and Kindergarten Students If you are the parent of a child ages 3-5 years old not yet enrolled in St. Paul Public School Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten, please schedule your child for an Early Childhood Screening (ECS) appointment. As you know, the state law requires our district to screen all children prior to school entry (with catch-up allowed during the first 30 days of kindergarten enrollment). The Student Placement Center (2102 University Ave W, (651) 632-3746) will be offering ECS appointments through July 2008 and possibly into August. 

Spring Carnival planning has begun!  This year we are adding a Hawaiian-themed photo booth.  We are looking for Hawaiian-themed items that can be used to decorate the photo area and clothes or accessories that can be worn by the children (and adults) in the pictures.  Please contact Melissa Kestner if you have anything to share!  crawkestner@aol.com or 651-690-0021.  Thank you!

Everyday Activities to Reinforce Math Skills Everyone knows the importance of reading to their children. But how many parents realize that it’s equally essential to help their children understand math—both math concepts and how it’s part of their everyday lives? Here are some fun, easy ways to incorporate math learning into your family life—without a lot of time, effort, or expense.

• Money is a powerful teacher. If your children are trying to save up to buy something special for themselves or others, keep a chart of how much money they will need and what they have saved to date.
• Create something. Both sewing and building involve a lot of math ability and children love the ability to create. Teach your children how to measure and sew fabrics together and to build basic structures out of wood (just make sure they know to always have adult supervision and to never do any projects like these on their own).

Above all, make sure not to pass any math phobias that you might have on to your children. It’s important for children to hear at home that what they’re learning is valuable—that all the work they’re doing trying to comprehend division or fractions or measurement will pay off their whole lives.

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