And we're off!!!!

In exactly 12 hours we'll be on our way!  Looking forward to a wonderful trip.  It will be an experience you'll never forget!  See you all bright and EARLY in the morning. 

dreams....what could they mean?

So, last night I dreamed about our trip...the only really good thing about the dream was that we snorkeled with a Whale Shark...which would be fantastic!  The things that woke me up with some concern was that some of you got really sunburned and others brought clothes that had to be dry cleaned.  The dry cleaned part was how I knew for sure it was a dream...the sunburning part could be a reality.  Please make sure that you bring a high number sunscreen.  The Belizean sun is potent, especially on our white Minnesota skin.  Please remember my personal thoughts on the ineffectiveness on spray sunscreen and that lotion is better. 

Also...just so you know...please don't bring clothes that have to be dry cleaned. :) 

6 days and counting!

Forms for Participation - Do you have yours in??

A BIG thank you to Alex, Maddie and Connor for having all their forms completed and turned in.  I sent emails out today to students with reminders of who still needs to turn in specific forms.  Please, please get these in sooner than later as it helps us with the organizational aspect of the trip.  16 days and counting!!

Reminder - Meeting Monday, 2/28 after school - don't forget $$

Hey Everyone...don't forget, we're meeting Monday after school in room 221.  Please remember to bring $75 in cash (preferably in 1's, 5's, and 10's). We're going to be getting ready for our trip by prepping for tips and admission costs.  This amount will be subtracted from your final payment. 

Student Meeting Wednesday - 7:30am Room 221

Valuable Belize related prizes on the line! Belize Trivia challenge will begin promptly at 7:30am!!

Next Payment Due...Tuesday, February 15th

Just a quick reminder...please get your February payment to Ms. Korby at PLHS or Cara at the DSC no later than Tuesday, February 15th.  Thanks!

Thank you!!

Thank you all so much for a wonderful day yesterday! I heard from both Sara and Ms. Korby that the day was very successful and each of you were part of the main reason why!  I'll let you know how successful the day was after we count the totals and deduct expenses.  Hope the rest of your weekend was as wonderful. 

Important Info for February 12th Fundraiser Event - Please keep checking back for updates

Remember - be there at 2pm...ready for setting up the area.

Please bring:

• marshmallow roasters (have your name on them) AND/OR wire hangers (with nothing on them) that can be manipulated to be roasters
• empty and clean pop cans (for pop can fishing caster activity)
• empty and clean 2 liter bottles with lids
• wear/bring clothes to be outside/in the snow for long periods of time
• old newspaper to cover tables in the activity area and use for fire starting
• games for elementary aged kids to play during the Parents Night Out

Like last time, bring:

• snacks for yourself...everything can be stored in the back room again

Please encourage friends and family to attend the Winter Wonderland Family Fun event from 3pm-6pm!! 

The Parent Night Out event starts at 6pm and runs through 10pm.  We'll clean up like last time and be outta there by 11pm.

Misc Update

Thanks for coming tonight to the parent/student meeting.  If you have any questions or want to speak one-on-one about anything, please do not hesitate to call me (cell: 612-636-3639) or email crieckenberg@priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us. 

Please return the completed forms with copies of medical insurance cards and passports sooner than later.  Please do not forget about the notorized letter too.  We'll need that no later than March 15th, preferably sooner. 

Put all materials in an envelope and bring to Ms. Korby at PLHS or drop off to me at the District Service Center. 

Please also remember that your February payment is due next Tuesday, February 15th.  Again, the payment can be given to Ms Korby at PLHS or dropped off to Cara at the DSC.

Here are some YouTube Video Clips for you to check out

The South Water Caye Marine Reserve - we are staying right in this reserve and will do the majority of our snorkeling in this area:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5GF7-PanTo

Caves Branch Tubing - this is like one of our potential adventures in the rainforest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQs2uogTftM&feature=related

Belize Zoo - our first stop on our Belizean adventure - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y5RIB9Z-AI

Reminder - Parent and Student Meeting Monday night, 2/7 at 6pm

Remember - parents and students...please come to the high school room 221 for a final informational meeting and Q&A.  Please remember to bring a copy of the student's passport and a copy of medical insurance information.  There will be a few forms that parents will need to fill out.  We should wrap up by 7pm. 

Don't forget...meeting tomorrow morning

Hey Everyone! Don't forget...student meeting tomorrow morning (Wednesday, 2/2) at 7:30am in room 221.  I'll bring breakfast treats and we'll plan for our February 12th fundraiser.

Reminders for Upcoming Meetings for both Students and Parents

A student meeting is scheduled for this Wednesday, February 2nd at 7:30am in Room 221 (Not 341).  For this meeting, we'll plan for the February 12th event. 

Our parent meeting is scheduled for next Monday, February 7th at 6:00pm in Room 221 at PLHS.  For this meeting, please bring a copy of the student's passport and a copy of medical insurance information.  (If you do not yet have the student's passport, please get a copy to Ms. Korby or Ms. Rieckenberg when you do have it.)

Your February payment 'invoice' will be emailed tomorrow along with important documentation allowing your student to attend the trip.  These papers will be due no later than the student meeting Monday, February 28th. 

Reminder...meeting this Thursday morning

Just a quick reminder...we are meeting this Thursday morning 7:30am in room 314.  Please bring any smencil monies you have so they can be applied to your February Belize payment.  We'll chat fundraisers...smencil sales, the February 12th event and grocery bagging.  You'll also be receiving important paperwork that you and your parents can begin working on and will be due with your February 15th payment.

See you Thursday.  Have a great week and remember...55 days to go!! Woohoo!!

Thinking warm thoughts!!

It might be a tundra outside, but a beautiful and WARM Caribbean island and rainforest are waiting for us!  8 weeks from today we'll be gearing up for our first snorkel.

Do you know these creatures?  You'll be swimming with them soon!!

       

Update on Who's Going to Belize

We've gained some participants and chaperones!

We now have 12 students travelling with us:

Alex Angelo, Claire Clark, Charles Emory, Chris Emory, William Emory, Maddie Ernst, Katie Hamerlinck, Kelsey Johnson, Cedric Krouch, Megan Lundquist, Greg Skudlarek, and Connor Venteicher

AND we now have 6 chaperones...all PLSAS employees...

Sara Aker, Lee Korby, Jill Kufrin, Dorothy Nicholas, Cara Rieckenberg, and LeAnn Weikle

Getting to Know Belize

Check out these links for information on Belize....

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/belize
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/belize/history
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/belize/wildlife/marine-life
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/belize/wildlife/animals
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/belize/wildlife/plants
http://www.ize2belize.com/belize/facts/overview.html
http://www.ize2belize.com/belize/facts/culture.html
http://www.ize2belize.com/belize/facts/animals.html

The student most knowledgeable on Belize culture, history and wildlife could win their very own Belizian music CD at the February 23rd meeting!

Fundraisers - They Add Up!!

Did you know we've earned just under $500 so far from our fundraisers?  That averages out to about $50 reduction in cost per student. 

Are you benefitting from this cost reduction?  If not, check out the Fundraiser Page link above.  In addition to big group fundraiser opportunities...there's a few ideas listed on how to raise funds individually or as small teams. 

Thanks to those of you who wrote letters to businesses.  I know it was a tedious task, BUT...you'll be receiving the benefit of the returns!!  All funds donated will be divided evenly according to how many letters you wrote and were distributed.  Watch for updates on the blog on donations.

Don't Forget...Meeting this Wednesday, January 19th

Quick reminder...student meeting this Wednesday, January 19th at 7:30am in room 314 at PLHS

Bring:
**10 neatly handwritten copies of the fund request letter for businesses (see past emails for template)
**monies earned to date from smencil sales

p.s.  9 weeks from TODAY we'll be on a WARM and beautiful Caribbean island  :)

January Payment due this week AND Can you help February 12th?

Two quick things....

1.  Your 2nd payment is due January 15th...since that falls on a Saturday, please get your payment to Ms. Korby at PLHS or me at the District Services Center no later than this Friday, January 14th.  I emailed you at the beginning of the month what your January payment would be.  Should you need me to resend this information, please let me know soon.

2.  I need to know who can 'work' the February 12th Fundraiser event.  It is scheduled from 2pm-11pm at the McColl Pond ELC in Savage, MN.  If we do not have at least 5 students we are not going to be able to do this.  Please email me ASAP as I cannot send the flyers to print until I know for sure I have enough student helpers. 

Thank you!!

February 12th Fundraiser is ON!

Great news!!  We are able to use the McColl ELC building Saturday, February 12th for our 2nd attempt at a stellar winter fun fundraiser.  As was decided this past Saturday, we're going to do another family event in the afternoon and a parent night out that evening.  Please reserve 2pm-11pm as we'll do a family fun event from 3:00-6:00pm and parent night out from 6:00-10:00pm.  We'll talk more about this at upcoming meetings.  I'll create a flyer though and get this to you this week so we can really advertise this event. 

Passport reminder....

If you haven't applied for your passport yet, do it TOMORROW!!!  Find out how, here:  http://travel.state.gov/passport/

If you already have a passport, please double check the expiration date. I know people who weren't able to go on their trips because of expired passports that they thought were still good.  Don't let that be you.

Snorkel Gear - What to get

You don't need the fancy schmancy stuff...instead, here are great pieces for under $40/set

Here's a link to a great set: http://www.divers-supply.com/-P1981.aspx?afid=8&utm_source=pricegrabber&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=pricegrabber&utm_content=1981

It's a good set because it does not require footwear with the fins and it comes with a cover so the mask strap doesn't rip your hair and it also comes with a bag.

Here's another great set: http://www.snorkel-mart.com/detail.cfm?ProductID=346&AllocatedProductID=578

Otherwise, if you want to piece it together, here are some great fins at a good price:  http://www.amazon.com/U-S-Divers-Proflex-Diving-Medium/dp/B000EM0LY4/ref=sr_1_26?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1293999251&sr=1-26

And here are a good mask and snorkel:  http://www.amazon.com/U-S-Divers-Acapulco-Veracruz-Electric/dp/B001QBHQUO/ref=sr_1_25?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1293999430&sr=1-25

Brrr!!

I hope you've thawed out from our event today!  Thank you all so very much for being present and helping out.  Even though we didn't have but about a dozen people, we raised close to $100.

As was decided this morning, we are going to give this type of event one more shot and do a Family Event similar to today from 2-6pm on Saturday, February 12th and combine it with a Parent Night Out that same day from 6-10pm.  Please tenatively reserve this day and these times.  I need to confirm that we can use the McColl Pond ELC.

By Monday, I will be getting information to you in an individual email for your January 15th payment.  This amount will be the balance remaining for your trip cost minus your fundraising credit divided by three (3 payments left). 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!