December 3,4,5 Holiday Gift Shop

December 6 Kindergarten field trip to Savage Library

December 10 General PTA Meeting/Chat and Chew 7pm Media Center

December 11 2nd grade field trip Kennedy Center

December 12 Holiday Concert – 7pm

DECEMBER 24 – JANUARY 1 - SCHOOLS CLOSED – WINTER BREAK

January 8 PTA Family Night – Chicken Out (Dobbin Center) 4pm-9pm

ATTENTION NEW HES VOLUNTEER PROCEDURES!
Attention all HES Volunteers! We have new procedures in place for volunteering. When you arrive at HES to volunteer please stop by the front office to pick up your name badge. These badges are to be worn while you are at HES and are to be returned to the office for safekeeping until your next volunteer day. You must have completed the training course with Mr. Vanisko to receive your badge. Thank you for volunteering!

MSA 2007 CELEBRATION
Presented by the Council of Elders of The Black Community in Partnership with the Howard County Public School System we would like to congratulate the following students for exemplary performance on the 2007 MSA: Deja Allen, Victoria Ashley, Rachel Brown, Brooklynn Rozier, Stephen Akyereko, Teresa DePinto, Jaire Dorsey, Johnson Moore, Christian Olaniran, Ayanna Rogers and Christian Shewchuck.

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM HEALTH ROOM
Parents please make sure that your child(rens) emergency information is kept updated, it is vital that we be able to get in touch with someone in case of illness or emergency. Parents (or other emergency designee) must be able to pick up your sick child from the health room in a reasonable amount of time (within ½ hour). Thank you for your attention to this matter.
When is it safe for a student to return to school after having been sick? Students who are ill and have a fever should remain at home until the temperature has been normal for 24 hours, any vomiting, diarrhea, rash or persistent cough has resolved, and the student is generally feeling better and ready to participate in school activities. The isolation of ill students at home can prevent the spread of illness in the school. Parents should report flu absences to the health assistant or nurse.

CHAT AND CHEW WITH THE ADMINISTRATION
You are invited to attend the PTA General meeting on Tuesday, December 10th at 7pm in the Media Center. Come join us for dessert and a Question and Answer session with the Administration along with an update on other PTA matters.

PTA HOLIDAY SHOP IS BACK!
The Holiday Gift Shop is coming once again to Hammond. Like last year, all items in the shop will be priced at $2.00. The shop will be open on December 3rd, 4th, and 5th during recess hours. The shop will also be open on Tuesday, December, 4th from 4:00pm – 6:00pm for those parents who wish to accompany their child or bring a sibling to shop. Each grade will visit the shop during their recess time over the three day period, giving the children 3 days to shop. Those students that do not want to visit the Holiday Shop will continue with their regularly scheduled recess. Watch for notices coming home in the school newsletter and in the Friday folders containing specific details about the Holiday Shop. The Holiday Shop will be open for all three days during the recess time. If your child cannot make it one day they can come on another.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED FOR THE HOLIDAY SHOP
Volunteers are needed to help support the holiday shop. Help Hammond students shop for holiday gifts. Moms, Dads, and grandparents are encouraged to volunteer. Please sign up for a 2 hour slot and help us out. If you would like to volunteer please contact Elizabeth Blough at EBlough@comcast.net or at 301-604-6769.

See the United States Navy Band!
See The United States Navy Band perform on Saturday, December 1st at 1:30pm at the River Hill High School Auditorium. Admission is free! No tickets required.

PTA Family Night at Three Brothers Italian Restaurant
Join us at Three Brothers Italian Restaurant for “Family Night” Monday, December 3rd. Help make it our most successful “Family Night” of 2007! Bring your family & friends between 4pm and 10pm and enjoy tasty Italian cuisine. “Three Brothers” will donate 20% of your purchase to the Hammond PTA. The restaurant is located on Deepage Drive near the corner of Carved Stone and Snowden River Parkway in Columbia. Please bring your flyers with you.

A FREE CONCERT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY !!
Please join the Columbia Concert Band for its annual Winter Concert on Sunday, December 9th. This free performance will take place at 3pm at River Hill High School. The Band, under the direction Howard County music teacher, Michael Blackman, will perform a variety of music including a playful piece entitled “Tricycle,” some wonderful but lesser known music by Gustav Holst, Howard Hanson and Ralph Vaughn Williams. Please call 301-596-9783 for more information.

Morning Drop Off Reminder
The doors to the school open at 8:45. Prior to this time staff are not outside to supervise students who arrive early. If your child walks to school or if you drive your child to school, please have him/her arrive between 8:45 and 8:55.

From the Guidance Department
Free Coat Drive! If you need help getting your child(ren) a winter coat this year, please let Mrs. Kelly know. Free coats in all size are available! Contact Mrs. Kelly @ margaret_ kelly@hcpss.org or 410-880-5890.

eSchoolnewsletter
If you would like to sign up to receive this newsletter and other important HES and HCPSS information via email, go to www.eschoolnewsletter.com . When you get to the webpage just follow the directions for new user sign up. If you decide you don't need a paper copy please send an email to julie_o’hagan@hcpss.org with the name and grade of your child.

General Music Website
If you haven't visited Mrs. Armstrong's website lately, you might want to check it out! The site includes: musical celebrations, our general music Tuffy's terrific 3Rs developed by the students, HES PRIDE song, weekly objectives, recorder assignments and lessons, worksheets, chorus information, concert dates, class schedule, great music sites, Composer of the Month, and the music "Joke of the Week" and much, much more!! Check it out at web.hcpss.org/~carmstrong (NO "www".) Enjoy!!

WINTER-WACKY-FAVORITE HAT DAY!!!
Our second SPIRIT DAY event of the school year, will be held on Friday, December 14th. Please join us and wear your favorite hat to school!! It can be a winter hat, a wacky hat or your absolute favorite hat!!!

STUFFED ANIMAL DONATIONS
Are your closets overflowing with stuffed animals? Are you wondering how you can store all of them until spring when the PTA Carnival Committee asks for donations for the Animal Fair Game? Worry no more! You can donate your stuffed animals early this year. The Animal Fair donation box will be in the school lobby between Monday, December 3rd and Friday, December 14th to collect your Gently Used Stuffed Animals. If you are not ready to part with your stuffed animals right now, we will still have our usual plea for stuffed animal donations in the spring. If you have any questions please contact Pat Johnson at (301) 725-4954 or patjohnson1@comcast.net. Thank you.

HEALTH AWARENESS DURING FLU SEASON
Flu Symptoms include: fever, headache, chills, body aches, tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, and nasal congestion. Flu is spread from person to person through the air by coughing and sneezing. It is also spread by direct contact with infected people. If you get the flu: rest; drink plenty of fluids such as juice, water or hot tea; and you may take an aspirin substitute such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) for muscle aches and fever. Do NOT give aspirin to a child or teenager who has the flu. Do NOT come to school with a fever or when taking medication to reduce a fever. If symptoms persist, contact your physician.