June 14, 2010 Dandelion and Hudson House Update

Hudson House Construction Crew
Go check out the outdoor classroom. It is absolutely spectacular!!!!

Once again the temperatures were in the mid 90’s and volunteers were out there Saturday and Sunday. Thank you. Volunteers had the extremely hot job of putting on roof decking. Thanks Holton and community volunteers Chris Chase, Alex Johnson, Stephen McCarthy, Scott Meredith, Don Polaski, Gene Robinson, A. T. Scruggs and Bryan Wingold.

So what’s next?

Depending on the weather, we hope roofers will be able to put the roof on Thursday. Roof Services Corporation is donating the roof and Urban Grid Solar and City Space Construction is donating two solar panels to power ceiling fans. Thanks for the generous donations! Thanks Mary Lorino for making those donations happen!

Additional Outdoor Classroom News:

Diggin’ Committee Contact: Kristin Cummings (kcummings7@verizon.net) and Brad Pearson (wbradp@comcast.net)

•The two VPI classes planted sweet potatoes last week. Thanks to “Sunshine” for planting with the kids. We are going to focus on harvesting any spring vegetables and and filling them in with more summer veggies this week. If you are interested in helping, please let us know. We will also be watering, watering, watering!
•Brad Pearson will be constructing a three-bin compost bin soon.
•Tricycle Gardens is having an open house this Thursday from 6-9pm. A group of us are going to get ideas about urban agriculture and learning gardens. Let ellenshepard@yahoo.com know if you are interested in going with a group. For more details go to tricyclegardens.org.

Dandelion Fundraising Contact: Susanna Raffenot (sraffenot@verizon.net) and Katie Best (kwbest@hotmail.com)

Katie Best will have a table set up at the end of the year picnic selling merchandise with the new Dandelion logo. All proceeds benefit the Dandelion garden.

We have:

•Re-usable sandwich wraps made from Capri Sun wrappers ($5)
•Water bottles ($5) made with recycled plastic
•Organic cotton t-shirts ($10)
•Re-usable grocery/shopping bags ($3.50)

Parents may also email orders to Katie (kwbest@hotmail.com), and she'll deliver merchandise to school.

Nutrition and Health Contact: Kim Lavach (kimlavach@yahoo.com), Gwen and Alan Davis (gwenandalan@msn.com) and John Haddad (johnghaddad@hotmail.com)

The Holton Wellness Committee and Holton parents are compiling a list of questions about food and purchasing for Richmond Public School officials. If you have questions you would like included, please email Gwen and Alan or John.

**Thanks to Mary Elfner for getting Green Duck Compostables & Biodegradable Goods to give us the paper products for the end of the year picnic at a significantly reduced price.
**Chefs Move to Schools—Richmond Public Schools has signed up to be part of the “Chefs Move to Schools” program, run through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will pair chefs with interested schools in their communities so together they can create healthy meals that meet the schools’ dietary guidelines and budgets, while teaching young people about nutrition and making balanced and healthy choices. With more than 31 million children participating in the National School Lunch Program and more than 11 million participating in the National School Breakfast Program, good nutrition at school is more important than ever.

Website:
• http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=14&tax_level=1&tax_subject=225
• http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/06/04/chefs-move-raise-a-healthier-generation-kids

A Few More Volunteers Needed, Please.

Thanks to all who volunteered so far. We are still looking for several volunteers to help with serving food and the Bike Rodeo. Please contact Christina Withers at cmwithers@gmail.com if you can help.

Volunteers Needed: End of Year Picnic

We are looking for 10-18 volunteers for setting up, serving, and cleaning up for the End of the Year picnic on June 18th. Volunteers are needed for the following shifts:

• 5-6 (3 set up)
• 6-7 (5 servers)
• 7-8 (5 servers),
• 7:30pm (3 clean up)
• 10 additional volunteers for the bike rodeo are also needed.

Please contact Christina Withers at cmwithers@gmail.com if you are able to help.

Field Day Volunteers Needed

Field Day at Linwood Holton Elementary is Wednesday, June 16th!

We are in need of volunteers to assist our students at 20+ stations. If you would like to volunteer we have two time slots available 9:30 - 12 or 12 - 2.

The entire event lasts from 10-2. Activities vary from inside to outside and wet to dry. All activities are 20 minutes.

Please contact Cordell Watkins (804) 467-5799 or cordell_watkins@yahoo.com.

June Dandelion and Hudson House Update

Hudson House Construction Crew

Go check out the outdoor classroom. The temporary fencing is off and we need to tamp down the stone dust so please walk on it. Volunteers did back-breaking work in brutally hot temperatures. We have a lot of thank yous.

The floor which is 35 tons of gravel and sand dust was shoveled, moved, and tamped by more than 20 volunteers from Church of the Nations Mid-Atlantic. Thank you Gwen and Alan Davis for getting your church involved and thanks to the volunteers: Martin Bennett, David Cox, Kaitlin Cox, Karen Cox, Alan Davis, Gloria Green, Mary Hutson, Peggy Lawson, Susan Lawson, Mike Morgan, Jason Pascale, Sara Pascale, Todd Peace, K. H. Rich, Lori Tate, Meredith Tate, Jim Turpin, Laurie Turpin, Bobby Vicker, Rachel Yeatts, and Benjamin Yeatts.

Thanks to Mr. Hudson for coming out to volunteer! Thanks Holton and community volunteers Chris Chase, Stephen McCarthy, Scott Meredith, Terry Murphy, Jean-Philippe Raffenot, Gene Robinson, Stacey Woodson and thanks to Stacy Murphy for bringing lunch.

Thanks to Scott Meredith for getting the 26 tons of gravel donated from a private company and 10 tons of stone dust donated from Luck Stone as well as getting D.W. Cary Hauling Inc to pick up and deliver the materials. Thanks to Scott and Mary Lorino for getting the 600 bricks donated from Riverside Brick. And thanks to Chris Chase, Greg Fowler, Gene Robinson, Stephen McCarthy, Eric Vinson, Chuck Wrenn as well as a number of Holton students for unloading the bricks.

So what’s next?

Schedule subject to change due to weather but the majority of the remaining work will happen next weekend. If you are interested in helping, please contact: Mary Lorino (mary@bam-architects.com).

**June 12/13—Put on plywood roof decking

**Roofers come the week of June 14th

Additional Outdoor Classroom News:

Diggin’ Committee Contact: Kristin Cummings (kcummings7@verizon.net) and Brad Pearson (wbradp@comcast.net)

The remainder of the beds will be planted this week and we will start filling in where there are any bare spots from the spring vegetables. If you are interested in helping, please let us know.

**The beds will require a lot of summer maintenance. We are estimating an hour or so a day for the entire summer. We are exploring different maintenance options but think that we will have two Holton families (teachers welcome as well!) assigned to each week. Families doing maintenance are invited to harvest whatever is ripe. Please let Brad or Kristin know if you are interested.

**Brad Pearson will be constructing a three-bin compost bin over the next week or two.
All Fired Up / Holton Mural Fundraiser
Contact: Susanna Raffenot (sraffenot@verizon.net) and Annie Chamblin
Annie has been going around to all the classes so each class can decorate a tile for their classroom. Every class will have a tile on the shed. Thanks to Rob Fox and Jim Gravgaard for donating those tiles.

Nutrition and Health Contact: Kim Lavach (kimlavach@yahoo.com), Gwen and Alan Davis (gwenandalan@msn.com) and John Haddad (johnghaddad@hotmail.com)

The Holton Wellness Committee and Holton parents are compiling a list of questions about food and purchasing for Richmond Public School officials. If you have questions you would like included, please email Gwen and Alan or John.

Dandelion Garden & Hudson House Update: May 2010

Thank you REB Principal of the year Mr. Hudson for your continued support and the generous contribution of your REB award. THANK YOU MR. HUDSON!

 

Ground Breaking:

The ground breaking was a wonderful event!

Thanks for all those who helped. A special thanks to Sara Arthur, Beth Bolstad, Kim Fowler, Susannah Haddad, Amy Henderson, Amanda Riley, Kim Thayer, Chip Vermillion, Liz Vermillion, Little Red Truck Landscaping, and Main Stage Productions for making the event a success.

To view photos of the event, click here.

Click here to listen to the NPR interview about the garden.
 
Logo Contest Winner: 

 

Congratulations to Logo Contest Winner Evan Salp!

Garden Bed Contruction:

Garden Bed Construction led by Aaron Garber included Chris Chase, Mary Elfner John Haddad, Jim Gravgaard, Ramzi Hossaini, Sean Jefferson, Nancy Logan, Mary Lorino, Scott Meredith, Austin Mitchell, Brad Pearson, Don Polaski, Amanda Riley, Patti Robinson, A. T. Scruggs, Brian Shepard, Chris Thompson, Lyle Wieber, Cordell Watkins, and Geoff Wilson.

Classroom Construction:

Construction on the Outdoor Classroom/Hudson House will begin the weekend of May 15 and take about six weekends. Some construction may happen during the week. We need volunteers who are familiar with framing and working with power tools. Please let Mary know if you are interested in helping with construction.

Construction Crew Contact: Mary Lorino (mary@bam-architects.com)

Volunteers Needed:

We need volunteers to plant with the classes, assist with during school and after school and summer maintenance, as well as sharing planting expertise. We hope to plant all the new garden beds with classes in the next couple of weeks. The Diggin’ committee will be meeting within the next week, please let Brad or Kristin know if you are interested in participating.

 

All Fired Up / Holton Mural Fundraiser and Art Night:

Deadline to purchase garden tiles is extended to May 6th!

Contact: Orders contact Susanna Raffenot (sraffenot@verizon.net)

Artwork contact Annie Chamblin (amcham@comcast.net)

You can buy tiles in two ways:

• Mural tiles range in ~sizes 4” ($10), 6” ($25), or 8” ($50). Students can paint them and write their name. Size is approximate as shapes will vary.
• Legacy tile / sponsor tile for $100. These are 8” square tiles. They will be mounted separately from the mural tiles.

All money raised will go towards building the shed. On May 18 tiles will be decorated at the PTA General Meeting ‘Art Night’. If you cannot make ‘Art Night’, we will make plans for your child to paint the tile at school. Once the shed is built (Summer), tiles will be mounted on the shed.

 

Holton Wellness Committee:

 

The Holton Wellness Committee and Holton parents are beginning discussions about nutrition in school and the partnership with Bon Secours. Bon Secours has supported the Outdoor Classroom project. They are meeting May 4 at 4pm in Ms. Hooker’s room.

Nutrition and Health Contact: Gwen and Alan Davis (gwenandalan@msn.com) and John Haddad (johnghaddad@hotmail.com)


Diggin' Committee:
Diggin’ Committee Contact: Kristin Cummings (kcummings7@verizon.net) and Brad Pearson (wbradp@comcast.net)

Teacher Appreciation Week Next Week

Hello Holton Families!


We will be celebrating our teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week next week, May 3-7. This is the time to let our children's teachers know that we recognize the incredible work they for our children. Please take this opportunity to show your appreciation. Your gift need not be costly--flowers from the yard, a work of art by your child, a note, a card or a simple gift are all wonderful ways to express your heartfelt thanks.

Also as part of Teacher Appreciation Week, The PTA will be hosting a luncheon for the Teacher's on Friday May 7th and a few volunteers are needed for this event as well. Please contact Beth Bolstad if you would like to help with the luncheon!

Volunteers needed to staff next week's book fair!

Your help badly needed for the book fair. We need volunteers to staff the fair every morning and afternoon next week. The fair can only be open if we get volunteers to help out. Please contact Barbara Haas for additional details, questions, and to volunteer.

 

The following shifts are available:

 

Monday April 26th

• 8:30 to 12:00
• 3:30 to 5:00

 

Tuesday April 27th

• 8:30 to 12:00
• 12:00 to 3:30
• 3:30 to 5:00

 

Wednesday April 28th

• 8:30 to 9:30
• 3:30 to 5:00

 

Thursday April 29th

• 8:30 to 9:30
• 3:30 to 5:00

 

Friday April 30th

• 8:30 to 9:30
• 3:30 to 5:00
• Before & After Young Hercules

 

Saturday May 1st

• Before & After Young Hercules

Urgent update to garden bed construction schedule

Due to the 30-60% change of rain and thunderstorms predicted for this weekend, we are going to do most of the garden bed construction Thursday and Friday after school. Sorry for those who had signed up for Saturday and will now not be able to participate. There will be plenty of work days in the future!!!
**Thursday 4-7 PM Cutting Wood and POSSIBLY beginning to assemble the beds (Need 3-4 people). NO CHILDREN ALLOWED. If you are willing, please bring any of the following tools that you have: Chop/mitre saw, Skill/Circular saw, Framing Square, Levels (4ft. or bigger), Pencils, Tape measures, Long extension cords, Cordless drills (bring chargers), Bits/drivers. Please label your tools.

**Friday 4-7 PM Assemble the garden beds. Majority of work will be using a level, hammering in stakes & assembling the beds. (Need 5-10 people). If you are willing, please bring any of the following tools that you have: Framing Square, Levels (4ft. or bigger), Pencils, Tape measures, Long extension cords, Cordless drills (bring chargers), Bits/drivers, Sledgehammers, Shovels, Wheelbarrows, Hard rakes. Please label your tools.

**Saturday 8-10am Majority of work will be shoveling dirt and compost. This work may happen on Friday night and will send out an email to all those who signed up to confirm or cancel this work.

Details about volunteering:

Construction will be led by Holton teacher Aaron Garber. All volunteers will be required to sign a waiver and due to safety issues raised by Richmond Public Schools, we ask that you do not bring your children Thursday night. When we are just moving dirt and compost there maybe some opportunities for children’s involvement but not when there are power tools and cords.
Please let me know what if you are available one of these days. Please email ellenshepard@yahoo.com or call 540-529-1595 if you have any questions.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Planning for the Garden's Ground Breaking-Volunteers Needed!

After a year of school and community work, we are planning to break ground on April 26, 2010 for the Holton Outdoor Classroom and gardens!

We need your help to make this project a success!

 

Please let us know if you are available to volunteer on any of the following dates:

 

Saturday, March 20

• Stake out the garden plans in the field.
• Students are invited to participate and will use a combination of survey points and measuring tape to find the four corners of each bed.
• This will be led by engineer David Lisowski on Sat., March 20 from 9-11.

 

Beginning the week of March 22

• Work with teachers to plant spring vegetables in existing beds (carrots, sugar snap peas, lettuce, spinach, collards, beets, strawberries, and nasturtiums which are edible flowers)
• Begin planting summer vegetable seeds in containers inside

Saturday, April 24 & Sunday, April 25

 

• Construct 13 New Garden Beds.
• This will be lead by Holton teacher Aaron Garber.
• All volunteers will be required to sign a waiver.
• Volunteers should be handy with a hammer.
• Volunteers will only be needed on Sunday if the work is not completed on Saturday.

Monday, April 26, 2010

12:30 p.m.

Ground Breaking Ceremony

 

• Ground Breaking Ceremony including all students, teachers, and school officials
• Announce winner of logo contest
• Plant vegetables in new garden beds

 Possibly May 15/16 (date will be finalized soon)

 

• Construct Hudson House/Outdoor Classroom.
• This will be lead by Holton parent Chris Chase.
• All participants will be required to sign a waiver.
• Volunteers should be skilled builders.

 

Please email to ellenshepard@yahoo.com with the following information. (The text below and be copied and pasted into an e-mail.)

 

*************************************************************************************

 ___I would like to help with garden plantings during school. I am available________________________.

  

___I would like to help on March 20 staking out the garden beds.

  

___I would like to help April 24 and/or 25 with garden bed construction.

  

___I would like to help April 26 setting up for the Ground Breaking Ceremony.

 

 ___I would like to help April 26 with planting the new garden beds.

  

___I would like to help with the construction of the Hudson House (Outdoor Classroom).

 

 ___I would like to help with garden maintenance and plantings after school and possibly summer time.

  

Name: __________________________________________________________________

 

Phone Number: __________________________  Email: ___________________________ 

 

Comments: _______________________________________________________________

 

Volunteers Needed on Thursday for the Science by Van!

The Science by Van will be at Holton this Thurs, March 4th. Four volunteers are needed for each shift, 10:00am-12:00 pm and 12:40-3:20pm. I know that lots of you have already volunteered to help with the 5k, but if you are available, we would greatly appreciate any time you could give.

Thanks so much,
Christina Withers
Holton PTA volunteer coordinator

Countdown to Holton's Annual 5K!

We are in the home stretch now....One week to go...Have YOU registered for the Holton 5K? Have you asked a friend to register?

Don't forget to REGISTER, WATCH, and DONATE!!

REGISTER here for the 5K.or DOWNLOAD the registration form here from the Holton website and registration forms are also available in the office

WATCH Holton's own Mr. Watkins on CBS 6's Virginia this Morning, Wednesday, March 3, at 9am.

DONATE a case or two of water. We still need 30 cases of water to be able to hydrate our 5K runners/walkers and our 4th and 5th grade 4-5-1 runners.

Also, on Friday, March 5, all of our Holton students will have an opportunity to participate in the annual Holton Kid's Dash. Each grade level will compete for medals and prize bags full of goodies. March 5 is, Wear Your Sweats to School day, and remember to wear your sneakers, because you won't be allowed to race without them. Parents, the fun starts at 1:30 and we hope you can join us to cheer on your child.

Volunteer to have some fun!

The Holton PTA is looking for a few great volunteers to serve on this year’s PTA board. Current openings include:

• Arts in Education Chair
• Membership Dance Chair
• ChairVP of Programs

The gift of your time and talents would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Amy Holtz (holtzfamily@hotmail.com) if you are interested or know someone who is.

If you cannot fill a board position, let Amy know that you are interested in helping out with particular events. She will put you in touch with the right person!