August 2010

We hope you have a wonderful summer with family and friends! We are looking forward to another great year at Ludwig School. Student packets will be mailed out in early August with valuable information.  If you packet is complete, please contact our office at 815-838-8020.

Check out this web site for student supply lists and more calendar updates. Here are a few upcoming highlights.

August 17, 2010 – Ludwig Walk-through 6:30-7:30
August 20, 2010 --- early dismissal 10:30
August 23, 2010 --- full day – hot lunches with a 2:30 dismissal
August 27, 2010 --- parent Ludwig School volunteer sheet due
September 3, 2010 --- Student/Parent School Handbook and Technology contracts must   be signed and turned in.
September 13, 2010 --- Child Lures program overview for parents, 6:30 Music room.
September 13, 2010 – Terra Nova week – 5th grade only
September 20, 2010 – SCHOOL PICTURES – payment due at the time of pictures

Dates to Remember 2010-2011
 CHECK WEB CALENDAR FOR MORE SPECIFICS.

August
24 - Assembly – magazine 8:15 gym
26 - Ludwig Open House 5:30/6-7/7-8
27 - Magazine #1 turn-in
31 - Magazine #2 turn-in

September
6 - LABOR DAY – No Classes
7 - Magazine – 3rd and Final -
13 - Child Lures Parent meeting – Band room – 6:30
13-17 - Terra Nova Tests – 5th GRADE ONLY
14 - S.O.S. BEGINS 2:35-3:15 referrals only
15 - School Improvement Day 10:55 dismissal
17 - CONSTITUTION DAY
20-24 - Progress Reports
20 - School pictures
21 - PEACE DAY

October
2 - National Custodian Day
8 - Institute Day No Classes
11 - COLUMBUS DAY – No Classes
22 - End of 1st Quarter
25-29 - Ludwig Book Fair – Science Lab-LUNCH THEN RECESS
25-29 - Ludwig Red Ribbon Week
28 - Ludwig Book Fair evening 3-7 PM
25 - Beginning of 2nd Quarter
29 - Halloween parade/party 12:45-1:00-2:00 / Report Cards

November
2 - ELECTION DAY / SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT DAY 10:55 Dismissal
5 - School Pictures retakes
7 - Daylight Saving Time – Back one hour
11 - VETERAN’S DAY – No Classes
17 - Spelling Bee – 4th @8:15 and 5th @12:45
22-23 - Progress Reports
22 - Parent-Teacher Conferences  1-8 p.m.
23 - Parent-Teacher Conferences 8-3 p.m.
24-26 - No Classes – Thanksgiving Holiday

December
N29-D2 - Book Worm Angels Drive
9 - Holiday School 4th concert – 1:15
10 - Holiday Parent 4th concert – 9:00
20-22 - Progress Report Week
21 - Holiday Parties – 1-2 pm
22 - Early Dismissal 12:30 Lunch then Recess -
23- Jan.5 - Winter Break

January
6 - Classes Resume
13 - End 2nd Quarter
14 - Institute Day- No Classes
17 - MLKing – No Classes
21 - Report Cards
31-F3 - 100th Day Food Drive

February
1-3 - 100th Day Food Pantry Drive
12 - PFA FUN FAIR @ LUDWIG
18 - Institute Day – No Classes
21 - PRESIDENT’S DAY – No Classes
22-25 - Progress Report Week
28 - STATE EXAMS BEGIN

March
1-4 - STATE EXAMS, makeups following week
7 - PULASKI DAY – NMO CLASSES
13 - Daylight Saving Time – Forward 1 hour
17 & 18 - Variety Show 6:30-8:00 -TENTATIVE
25 - School Improvement Day – 10:55 dismissal / End of 3rd Quarter
28-April 3 - Spring Break

April
4 - Classes Resume / Game Day Criteria Begins
8 - Report Cards
15 - Career Banquet           
19 - Spring Pictures
21 - School Improvement Day – Dismissal 10:55
22-25 - No Classees
27 - Administrative Assistant Day / G.R.E.A.T. GRAD PRACTICE  8-9 AM
28 - G.R.E.A.T. GRADUATION 8:30

May
2-6 - Staff Appreciation Week / Progress Report Week
12 - Spring Staff 5th concert 1:15
13 - Spring Parent 5th concert 9:00
19 - Last S.O.S.
27 - School Improvement Day – dismissal 10:55
30 - MEMORIAL DAY – NO CLASSES

June           
2 - Game Day
3 - Last Day
6-10 - Snow Days

How to Help Your Children With Homework
- Many parents encounter frustration when they attempt to help their children with homework.  Here are some tried and true ways to help:
- Set up a workable homework schedule.  Study time should depend on your family’s schedule.  Decide, with your children, on a time for them to do homework.  Maintain the schedule as much as possible.  
- Encourage your children to complete class work at school.  Some children put off doing their work at school if they know they can bring it home.  
- Monitor your children while you are doing another task.  Keep an eye on the situation, but don’t encourage helplessness and dependency by sitting with your children as they study.  Homework is their obligation, and they should take responsibility.  
- Organize and prioritize.  Children sometimes get overwhelmed with the enormity of a task.  Help your youngsters get organized and decide which assignments to complete first.  
- Check completed homework assignments.  If there are errors, go over the work with your children until they understand, then allow them to correct it.  This will give them a sense of accomplishment, and they will be secure in the knowledge that their work is correct.

The Master Teacher

Put ICE on Your Cell Phone
- Having a cell phone is a must for many parents today. It enables them to stay in touch with their children, regardless of how busy and hectic the family schedule may be. Yet, in addition to being practical for day-to-day uses, the cell phone can even be a lifesaving measure. One difficulty emergency personnel often face is how to locate family members or friends of someone who is unconscious or otherwise unable to respond to questions. To notify next of kin or obtain other necessary information about a patient, emergency personnel may turn to the person's cell phone.
Therefore, many emergency services personnel encourage cell phone users to program an emergency contact name and telephone number into their cell phones, under the acronym "ICE" (in case of emergency). Having an emergency cell phone contact under ICE can help patients receive treatment in a timely fashion. Parents can program an emergency contact such as "ICE Mom" or "ICE Dad" or "ICE Parents" into the cell phones their youngsters carry so medical personnel can be aware of their relationship to the person they are treating.

The Master Teacher

Libraries Can Save Families Money and Add Entertainment Value
-Has it been a while since you and your family ventured into your local library? The 21st century library has made some ground-breaking changes, and you can benefit from all the new user-friendly services and products available there. The best part about it--all these new technological and digital enhancements can be yours free.

Of course, the library still has lots of books. But did you know many modern-day libraries now have online access to many of their offerings? You can download books-on-tape right from your home or business computer. You can then download the books to your own MP3 or iPod. Some libraries are even offering books-on-tape already downloaded into MP3 players. When you’re done listening, bring back the player and get another of your favorite books-on-tape.

Libraries also offer free rental of movies; music CDs; and instructional videos for exercising, cooking, camping, or whatever else you’d like to learn. If you belong to an organization such as an investment or book club, libraries may offer free meeting space. They also bring in informational and educational speakers from time to time, along with entertainment for the kids.

Why spend money on magazine or newspaper subscriptions? Now you can get free access to numerous online subscription services through your library. There are also many databases on library computers that include trade magazines, encyclopedias, research and business information, and more. As the cost of living goes up, it’s great to have a no-cost option for entertainment. And it can all be yours with just a library card.

August 2010
SmileSafe Kids Safety Program
In our continuing commitment to support the safety of our community, Ludwig School is pleased to continue our participation in the SmileSafe Kids™ program, a child safety program developed in partnership by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and Lifetouch National School Studios. Click here to read more: Ludwig Smile Safe Letter.