back to school

Welcome to 2009!

On Friday, January 9, students enjoyed their Holiday Parties that were supposed to be on the last day of school before the break. Since school was cancelled due to snow, so were the parties. The kids at Cridersville had fun playing bingo, playing hot potato, listening to stories from the left and right (hi, Mrs. Doll's class!) and so much more.

The PTO would like to thank parents for donating their time and talents for the students at Cridersville. We wouldn't be able to do it without you!

pie in your face

The PTO likes to reward hard work....not only do students earn rewards from our fundraising company but they also earn rewards from the PTO. The students selling at least 30 items went to Pizza Hut in Wapak in a limo! They each enjoyed lunch and a ride in a limousine, too.

When we returned to school, a prize assembly was held in the gym. Students selling at least 20 items participated in a hacky sack game. But the icing on the cake, oh, eh hum, PIE, was when the top seller from each grade creamed a staff member in the face with a pie.

Holiday Sports Spectacular!

Three years ago, the PTO was a bit short on funds. We had always brought in a special assembly for the kids to enjoy right before the holiday break. We still wanted to do something for the kids but we just did not have the money to do it. After some brainstorming, we asked our Physical Education teacher, Mrs. Black, to help us with something for the kids during their phys ed time. Holiday Sports Spectacular was born! Mrs. Black transformed our gym into a winter wonderland. She created a snowbank fit for snowball fights, a hockey game, toboggan riding and cross country skiing. With the help of yarn balls, a six sided hockey rink, scooters and buddy walkers, our wonderland arrived. Students enjoy it each year the last week of school before holiday break. Here are some of photos....

catching up

Cridersville students have been busy! We will write a quick post to try and catch up. Let's see, we have had the Santa Store, are in the middle of Holiday Sports Spectacular and still have four more days of school until holiday break!

Students that sold at least 30 items in the fall PTO fundraiser will be going to the Pizza Hut in Wapak in a limo! They will enjoy the limo ride there and back and enjoy lunch in between. Congratulations to the following students that earned the limo lunch: Trinity Tomsett, Logan Bunger, Derek Brockert, Kimberly Rose, Hannah Laise, Emma Davis, Shawn Knupp, Seth Leek, Landon Lightle, Katie Pleiman and Caitlin Duff.

The PTO will also hold the Prize Assembly on Thursday at 1:30. Students will be awarded their prizes earned from the fundraiser. Those students that sold at least 20 items will participate in a hacky sack game. Congrats to the following students that sold at least 20 items: Emily Neidemire, Denise Myers, TeVeon Tate, Taylor West, Zane Bowen, Jessica Davis, Connor McDonald, Luke Beach, Isaiah Green, Hannah Green, Justice Martin, Mallory MdDermitt, Jessica Converse, Shawn Knupp, Seth Leek, Derek Brockert, Emma Davis, Katie Pleiman, Hannah Laise, Logan Bunger, Walker Maag, Caitlin Duff, Kimberly Rose, Landon Lightle and Trinity Tomsett.

The top seller in each grade will also get to cream a staff member in the face with a pie. The top sellers were Trinity Tomsett in kindergarten, Derek Brockert in first grade, Kimberly Rose in second grade, Landon Lightle in third grade and Caitlin Duff in fourth grade. Trinity was also the top seller in the entire school. Congratulations to these students!! Be sure to check back as photos will be posted after the assembly.

Be a Book Day will held Friday morning. Students will have the opportunity to visit several staff members reading a book dressed as the book character.

from the ground up

There is more work being done at the site for our new school.

It is very exciting!

If you have the chance, take a ride down Reichelderfer Road

and check it out.

I'm the Mom

In our crazy and busy lives, we all need a bit of humor now and then. This is for all you Moms out there who sometimes feel like the end of the day is never coming. Happy day!

November skating party

We had a GREAT parent turn out tonight. A big THANKS to all of the parents ~ both those that rode the bus and helped chaperone and those who just came with their kids.

The video is of the speed skate of those 18 and older.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

a new beginning part two

Okay, so I am posting again. I am just so excited about the new school! I walked down with my kids and took more photos and shot some video....here they are.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

a new beginning

I am trying to take photos periodically of the future site of our new school. The first photo is taken from a vantage point that I am going to take a photo from often, to document the progress. The hopes are so that we can see it grow from the field it once was to the incredible school it will be.

This next photo, the last of three, is of the area just beyond the entrance to Otterbein. They have a dirt road from the site, through the trees, over to the adjacent property. I think the dirt there was moved from the building site. We shall have to see the process as it moves along. Be sure to come back to see any growth. I will be tagging all of the posts related to the new building as "new beginning".

Halloween Parade

For the past few years, the Cridersville PTO and school have sponsored a float in the annual Cridersville Halloween Parade. This year's theme of Reach For The Stars was the idea behind our float. If you remember from an earlier post, the first day of school brought us Mission Control. Some of our staff reminded students of the importance of respect, responsibility and doing our best all of the time. We tried to recreate this on our float this year.

In keeping with our theme, we had students walk as our "STARS".

PTO members Joy Baeumel and Stephanie Green dressed up for the parade.

Here is another shot of more PTO members...and their kids.

more Red Grammer

Finally, here are a few photos from the Red Grammer assembly that took place on Monday for Red Ribbon Week. Mr. Grammer brought up staff members towards the end of the assembly and got them involved, too!

Below is Mrs. Green, Mr. Searcy, Mr. Grammer, Hannah and Emma.

Mr. Searcy and Mr. Grammer with some Cridersville kids after the assembly.

Tuesday was "wear RED day"....here are Mikayla and Mr. Searcy.

Thanks for all you do for our kids at Cridersville, Mr. Searcy!!

Red Ribbon Week

We kicked off Red Ribbon Week with an assembly from Red Grammer. He is an accomplished muscian whose album, "Be Bop Your Best" is a collection of smart and delightful songs about truthfulness, resposibility, kindness, fairness, integrity and citizenship. You can read more about Red Grammer at http://www.redgrammer.com/.

Below is a video of one of the many songs he performed for our students on Monday.



Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Red Ribbon Week history~

Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation reaching millions of Americans during the last week of October every year. By wearing red ribbons and participating in community anti-drug events, young people pledge to live a drug-free life and pay tribute to DEA Special Agent Enriqué “Kiki” Camarena.

Special Agent Kiki Camarena:
Special Agent Camarena was an 11-year veteran of the DEA assigned to the Guadalajara, Mexico, office where he was on the trail of the country’s biggest marijuana and cocaine traffickers. In 1985, he was extremely close to unlocking a multi-billion dollar drug pipeline.
On February 7, 1985, he was kidnapped, brutally tortured, and murdered by Mexican drug traffickers. His tragic death opened the eyes of many Americans to the dangers of drugs and the international scope of the drug trade.

History of Red Ribbon Week:
Shortly after Kiki’s death, Congressman Duncan Hunter and Kiki’s high school friend Henry Lozano launched “Camarena Clubs” in Kiki’s hometown of Calexico, California. Hundreds of club members pledged to lead drug-free lives to honor the sacrifice made by Kiki Camarena.
These pledges were delivered to First Lady Nancy Reagan at a national conference of parents combating youth drug use. Several state parent organizations then called on community groups to wear red ribbons during the last week of October as a symbol of their drug-free commitment.
The first Red Ribbon Week celebrations were held in La Mirada and Norwalk, California. In 1988, the National Family Partnership (NFP) coordinated the first National Red Ribbon Week with President and Mrs. Reagan serving as honorary chairpersons.

How to Celebrate Red Ribbon Week:
The NFP estimates that more than 80 million people participate in Red Ribbon events each year. The campaign is a unified way for communities to take a stand against drugs and show intolerance for illicit drug use and the consequences to all Americans. Schools, businesses, the faith community, media, families, and community coalitions join together to celebrate Red Ribbon Week in many ways, such as: sponsoring essay and poster contests; organizing drug-free races; decorating buildings in red; handing out red ribbons to customers; holding parades or community events; and by publicizing the value of a drug-free, healthy lifestyle. DEA joins with community coalitions and prevention groups to plan and carry out Red Ribbon activities, ranging from classroom events to stadium-sized rallies.

Three For Me

The PTO started a new volunteer program this school year called Three For Me. The basic idea is to have every parent promise to volunteer three hours to their child's school this year. You can read about it and ways to volunteer by clicking on the link to "other reading" found on the side bar. Since the program has started, we have had 84 names logged in the office on the sign in sheet. We would like to list all of the parents or grandparents who have already volunteered their time to their child, our school. Before we do that, the PTO would like to express a giant THANK YOU to all who volunteered!! (please note that some of these names are on the list more than once~thank you!)

Amie Green, Angie Carder, Heather Reser, Carolee Penlington, Angie Williams, Stephanie McDermitt, Tammi McDonald, Donnie Green, Frank Oen, Jessica Martin, Deb Oen, Chrissy Dunifor, Emily Ranchel, Chip Pangle, Morry Mosgrove, Mandy Tangeman, Ashlie Foster, David Deitering, Heather Moody, Ron Miller, Angie Gierhart, Melanie Hicks, Jeff Place, Angel Grimes, Christina Fisher, Mike Bissegger, Kris Laise, Jodi Stopher, Barb Cerda, Tom Little, Vance McKenah, Jason Clark, Dan & Linda Martin, Kari Ricketts, Kathryn Steinbrunner, Dawn West, Amber Gilroy, Angie Schlesselman, Tammy Myers, Alexandra Fisher, Heather Tier, Eric West, Jennifer Neal, Matt Roby, Carli Price, Tammi Spinnati, Stacey Williams, Mrs. Atha, Carmen Young, Timothy Rhine and Brenda Clark.