Happy December!

I hope everyone enjoyed spending time with family over the Thanksgiving break. Thanks to the generosity of the East Hill community, we were able to provide Thanksgiving dinners to eleven very appreciative East Hill families. The fifth grade Student Council enjoyed working on this project in conjunction with our PTA.

We are continuing our canned food drive for the Salvation Army for the next two weeks. There are two big barrels in the lobby in which students can deposit canned goods, such as beans, tuna, evaporated milk, etc. Also in the lobby at this time you will find the PTA’s Community Giving Tree. Information was sent home with your child about Community Giving. If you are interested in helping to make the holiday a little easier for one of our local families, you can take a tag off of the tree and purchase the item listed on the tag. The PTA asks that the gifts are returned, wrapped, by December 8. The tag should be securely fastened to the gift. I am always amazed each year at how quickly the tags disappear as people are always so willing to help others in need.

In addition to the PTA’s Community Giving project this year, the Skaneateles Middle School Student Council is adopting two of our families and purchasing gifts for them. They are doing this courtesy of Todd’s Fund. According to the Todd’s Fund website, Christopher Todd Pitman grew up in Skaneateles. As a child, Todd’s warmth and radiance was coupled with a desire to succeed in every aspect of life. He was an ambitious hockey player, a gifted student, a steadfast friend and a loving brother and son.  On September 11, 2001, at the age of 30, Todd was at his desk in the World Trade Center and was unable to make it out of the building. In 2002, family and friends joined together to create an everlasting memory of Todd’s generosity and love of life.  The mission of Todd’s Fund is to provide hope and relief to children in need. We appreciate them thinking of East Hill at this time of year!

As many of you have seen, a fence has been erected around the old playground. It will be taken down soon. Ms. O’Keefe has taught the students many different group games they can play during recess, has put together a bucket of recess supplies for each wing, and has formed an area where students can walk or run laps. So, even without a playground, students will have plenty of chances to get in their fun and exercise.

Mark your calendar! East Hill’s fourth and fifth grade concert will be held at 7:00 p.m. December 8, 2015 at the High School. There will not be a PTA meeting this month. Holiday parties will be held on Tuesday, 12/21 at 2:15. We will have a full day of school on 12/23.

Fifth Grade Band Rehearsal

This week’s Words of the Day are quotient (M), symbol (T), compare (W), contrast (Th), and compassionate (F).

Have a great rest of the week!

-         -  Lisa