Sunday, January 30, 2011

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. 

Sunday, January 23, 2011

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!!

       

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

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.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

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  :)

Monday, January 10, 2011

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!!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

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. 

Monday, January 3, 2011

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.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

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

Saturday, January 1, 2011

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!