This year is the centennial commemoration of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Located at Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb was initially dedicated by the Army on Armistice Day, November 11, 1921, with the burial of an unknown service member from World War I. Over the past century, additional unknowns have been buried at the Tomb, and the site has become a people’s memorial that inspires reflection on service, valor, sacrifice and mourning. The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th, starting precisely at 11:00 a.m. EST with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
*Each year, the Veterans Day National Committee publishes a commemorative Veterans Day poster. This year, the winning poster was created by artist Matt Tavares from Maine.
The window to fill out our School of Excellence Survey is closing!
Please help us on our path to earn the School of Excellence designation for Schimelpfenig MS by taking a few minutes to answer the questions on the Google Form found here: https://forms.gle/JsXACSYySfJa9R678
Drive through and drop off items from 8:30 a.m. to noon in the Chase Oaks Church parking lot at 281 Legacy Drive (enter from Chase Oaks Boulevard.) Information about what you can recycle and donate is available here: Texas Recycles Day (plano.gov)
With your help, Schimelpfenig PTA earned the Head Start Award -- 75% of last year's membership by the end of August! Help us to win the Three-Year High Award -- show more than 100% of last year's membership by November 30th! We currently have 528 members and our goal is 600 members, one more than last year. Grandparents and other family members can join as Community Members and students can join, too, to support your Schimelpfenig PTA!
November is Healthy Lifestyles Month. Try Texas PTA's Healthy@Home Idea Sheet bingo to practice healthy habits with your family. The bingo sheet is available here.
November is Children's Grief Awareness Month. Register for a webinar on November 10th at 2 p.m. EST entitled The Power of Partnership: A Conversation with National PTA and First Book to discuss the value of partnership, the importance of community, and exciting new resources and support for the childhood bereavement field as part of PTA's Healthy Minds initiative.
Webinar Registration - Zoom
Election Day is Tuesday, November 2nd. Early Voting began on October 18 and continues through October 29 on eight Texas Constitutional Amendments. For more information on this election, click here: Election Information (collincountytx.gov)
The Teacher Treat bar on Friday was a yummy treat for our Schimelpfenig staff! Thank you to everyone who donated items and to the volunteers who helped set up and decorate the teacher lounge.
If you have not already registered, today, November 1st, is the last day to do so! Sign up to participate in the Fall Waterways Cleanup to make our creeks less polluted and safer for wildlife. If you are busy on November 6th, individuals and groups can sign up to clean Plano creeks and roadways (pre-creek cleanup!) year round because litter never ends, unfortunately.
November is Healthy Lifestyles Month. Try Texas PTA's Healthy@Home Idea Sheet bingo to practice healthy habits with your family. The bingo sheet is available here.
November is Children's Grief Awareness Month. Register for a webinar on November 10th at 2 p.m. EST entitled The Power of Partnership: A Conversation with National PTA and First Book to discuss the value of partnership, the importance of community, and exciting new resources and support for the childhood bereavement field as part of PTA's Healthy Minds initiative.
Webinar Registration - Zoom
In the latest Notes From the Backpack podcast, Episode 48, Supporting Students of Color, Dr. Shawn Jones, psychologist and professor at the Virginia Commonwealth University, offers guidance on creating schools that better serve students of color. Listen to the podcast here: Supporting Students of Color - Podcast | National PTA
This week is Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon week began in 1985 as a response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, an act that led people in communities across the country to begin wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raising awareness about the destruction caused by drugs in America. In 1988, National Family Partnership sponsored the first National Red Ribbon Celebration. Red Ribbon week is celebrated annually from October 23-31 and serves as a way for people to come together to keep children, families, and communities safe, healthy, and drug-free. NFP suggests the following ways that families can observe this week at home:
- Use Red Ribbon Week as an opportunity to continue talking to your kids about drugs. Let them know that alcohol and drug use will not be tolerated.
- Enter the Red Ribbon Photo Contest for a chance to win an iPad for you and your family - and $1,000 for your child's school: 2021 Red Ribbon Photo Contest
- Encourage your kids and other students to take a stab at creating the 2022 National Red Ribbon Theme. Gain national recognition and $500 of Red Ribbon theme merchandise for your child's school. This year's theme was created by Marin Wurst, a 7th grader at Solon Middle School in Solon, Ohio.
- Watch Natural High’s free celebrity drug prevention videos with your child and use their discussion questions to have a conversation with them about drugs and alcohol.
- For more activity ideas, go to: Red Ribbon Week Activities for Parents.
Schimelpfenig Middle School will be observing Red Ribbon week starting today with theme days and events.
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