Spring is here and it is time to start thinking about plans for the 2012-13 school year.  April is the month when we accept requests from parents for placement of their child for the next school year.  Class placement for our students is one of the most important educational decisions that we make.  Therefore we put a lot of thought and experience into our decisions.  We do consider your requests as a part of our decision-making, but please understand our final placement decisions are made based on your child’s past academic and behavioral performance and the goals that your child’s present teacher has set for them.  As we have teaching openings because of retirements and those positions will not be filled until after the school year ends, you may want to write your request stating the teaching style or teacher personality that you feel is most beneficial for your child rather than a specific teacher’s name.  Be assured that we will put the same effort and thought into your child’s placement as we have in the past, ensuring a secure and productive school year for them.  Please have your written requests delivered to the MRE office by the end of April.

In conjunction with the Book Fair, we are having “Literacy Night” on Thursday, April 12 from 6:00-7:00 pm.  Some of the activities that students will be able to enjoy are: the computer lab set up for AR tests, a quiet reading room, listening to “special guest” readers, ActivBoard reading where students will have a chance to interact with stories using great technology.  there will also be “open mic” for students to read their poetry, along with a slightly used book exchange and shopping at the late night Book Fair.  Come to MRE and enjoy the fun with reading.

The 4th annual Father/Daughter Dance will be held in the MRE gym on Friday, April 27 at 6:00-8:00 pm.  What a special event this is.  We will be sending home the invitations with more information soon.  This is definitely a memory-making event.

The 2 for 1 Book Fair will be held in the MRE library from April 10-17.  The hours will  7:30 am-4:00 pm each day except Thursday, April 12 when the Fair will be open 7:30- am – 8:00 pm.  As the school library receives no profit from the “2 for 1 ” sale, savings are passed on to you and your children.  So come and shop.

Not to have our sons forgotten, the Mother/Son Bowling extravaganza will be held at Lava Lanes in Medford on Thursday, May 17.  There will be two sessions you can choose from, either 4:00-5:30 pm or 6:00-7:30 pm.   More information about this event will be coming home soon.

Call our office if you have not already given us the name of your child who will be attending Mae Richardson Elementary as a Kindergartener for the school year 2012-13.  The Kindergarten Roundup will be Tuesday, May 15 at 6:00 pm at MRE.

May is Marble Season here at MRE and we take our marble playing very seriously!  Students are allowed to bring their marbles to school beginning May 1.  Please assist your child in getting the marbles secured in a container to prevent spillage on the bus or in the classroom.

When I look at the calendar I am reminded that Spring is right around the corner.  With Spring comes fun activities such as; Science Fair, Marble Season, Father/Daughter Dance, and Mother/Son Bowling, but also our teachers are striving to cover as much of the year’s curriculum as possible before Summer break.  This is also the time when students start playing soccer, baseball and softball again, with practices and games after school hours.  All of these fun and important activities are healthy for students to participate in, but there are challenges to getting  homework completed and getting enough sleep.  Please help us with providing an academically productive, restful, healthy and fun Spring for our students.

MRE students, staff and families say goodbye to Mr. Bill Morgan, our Lead Custodian of 21 years.  Bill is retiring, with his last day being April 10.  Over the years he has experienced many changes to the facility and gotten to know many students and staff.  His great work ethic, multiple mechanical talents and his warm smile have kept us healthy, safe and comfortable.  He is the builder of our wonderful benches in the Commons.  He is looking forward to working on his motorcycle, and other projects and spending more time with his family.  We will miss him!