We are off to another wonderful start here at Jay Shideler. The first few days of school are always fun and interesting. We look forward to another wonderful school year....and remember, "It's a GREAT day to be a Blue Jay!"

• March 15-19, Spring Break
• March 22, School resumes
• April 1, Fourth Grade Concert
• April 2, No School, Inservice
• April 6, Sixth Grade to WRMS
• April 7, Volunteer Luncheon
• April 9, Kindergarten Roundup
• April 21, Foundation Breakfast
• April 21, Author Visit

All K-2 students and their families are invited to attend a special event in the Jay Shideler School Gym. Jo Ho, a professional storyteller, will come and share some fun stories. There will be a snack provided for all who attend. Bring your blankets and pillows, wear your favorite PJs, relax and enjoy. It will be held on Monday, April 5 at 6:30. To help us plan, please return the form (Click Here) by Tuesday, March 30.  If you have any questions, please contact Tracey Rickabaugh at 339-4630 or email rickatra@usd437.net. Only one form per family needs to be returned.

Would you like to be part of an exciting new program. During the month of February, you are invited to participate in a book club open to all 3th graders and an adult buddy. The buddy can be a parent, grandparent, adult family friend, anyone who is willing to read the book and attend a couple of meetings. If you cant find a buddy, but want to join the club, let Mrs. Rickabaugh know and she will find an adult buddy for you.

The club will work like this. Mrs. Rickabaugh will select a book for all in the club to read. The book will be The Hunted: A Mystery in Glacier National Park by Gloria Skurzynski. I will order books for you, or you can order your own through Barnes and Noble, Amazon, etc. students and buddies will begin to read the book. The cost for the books that I can get are $5.00 each and should be available by the end of January. On February 19, you and your buddy will be asked to come to the Little Theater with your lunch (it can be school lunch or lunch you bring from home or a restaurant such as Subway) and have a short discussion on the book, and be shown/given activities that you can do at home as you read the book. We will meet during the regular lunch times. On March 5, we will meet once again for lunch in the little theater and discuss the completed book. Thats all you have to do. If you are interested in joining this group, please fill out and return the bottom of a form by January 20, 2010. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Rickabaugh at 339-4630, or email rickatra@usd437.net.

About this Book:
Grizzly cubs are disappearing from Glacier National Park, and the Landon family must figure out why! But for Jack, the real mystery is his sister Ashley's strange behavior. What was she doing alone in the woods so early in the morning? And why did she lie to their parents? Jack's efforts to unravel the truth lead to a pulse-pounding adventure that brings the Landon kids face to face with an enraged grizzly-as Jack and his sister suddenly become the hunted.

Click Here for The Hunted Literature Links

Ahoy, Mates! The 6th Grade Focus Group worked together to create a website after reading the novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson....(more info on the project)

Click here to visit their website.

Again, this year, students in grades K-6 have the opportunity to participate in the Net Smartz Internet Safety presentation. NetSmartz, is an initiative of the Kansas Attorney General's Cyber Crime Unit to help increase awareness and education about Internet crime. NetSafeKansas is part of Attorney General Steve Six's ongoing effort to prevent online crime in Kansas.

For more information follow the links below:
Net Smartz Kids Page
Net Smartz Family Resource Page
Kansas Attorney General's Internet Safety Page

The Library has a new resource page. (Click Here) At this link you will find important library news, upcoming events and helpful information.

Mr. Stires, art teacher at Jay Shideler, is collecting entries for the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Art and Conservation Program. This program teachers students about wetland conservation through art.

For more information:
Complete Information
Entry Form (PDF)

Questions? Contact Mr. Stires at stirejay@usd437.net.

August 24, 2009	November 30, 2009
August 31, 2009	December 7, 2009
September 7, 2009	December 14, 2009
September 14, 2009	January 4, 2010
September 21, 2009	January 11, 2010
September 28,2009	January 18, 2010
October 5, 2009	January 25, 2010
October 12, 2009	February 8, 2010
October 19, 2009	February 15, 2010
October 26, 2009	February 22, 2010
November 2, 2009	March 1, 2010
November 9, 2009	March 8, 2010

How's the Weather?