Parent/Teacher Workday

The Parent/Teacher Workday for the fall semester is this Sunday, 11/1/09 from 1-4 p.m. at the school. Please bring yard tools, wheelbarrels, painting poles, extension ladders and paint brushes.

We will be painting the new building, planting in the garden, working on a couple of classroom doors and distributing mulch on the playground.

Don't forget - at least one parent from each family should attend.

Contact Shannon at 787-1899 for alternatives if you are unable to attend.

Thank you for your continued support!

4th Annual Oyster Roast & Silent Auction:
Got Questions?

Let us know – we will post questions & answers here on the Harmony Family Blog immediately


Submit questions to: harmonyschoolfundraising@gmail.com

Our Thanks to...

Thank you to Joe, Tyler and Debbie Holmes, Kristin McAngus, Carroll Bruno and Jack Duncan for helping to scrape, sand and prime the building on Tuesday, October 20th.

Thank you to Beth Moore, Tyler and Debbie Holmes for scraping and priming the building on Wednesday, October 21st to get it completed and ready to paint on our Parent/Teacher workday Sunday, November 1st from 1pm until 4pm.

Oyster Roast/Silent Auction Q&A

1. Will there be any tofu oysters this year? No, but there will be a basket of rubber erasers available for roasting.
2. Will there be any other food options besides oysters and chili? Possibly some artisan bread and cupcakes but no other "main food" as the preschoolers would say.

Oyster Roast & Silent Auction Approaching 11/7/09

Less than 3 weeks remain before the 4th Annual Oyster Roast & Silent Auction. The cost is $30 in advance ($15 of the ticket price is tax-deductible) or $35 beginning 11/1/09 . Our goal is for each Harmony Family to sell 4 tickets and to turn in as many auction items as possible. Visit the event blog for a current listing of available auction items www.harmonyauction.blogspot.com
WE NEED THE SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT OF ALL FAMILIES IN ORDER FOR THIS EVENT TO BE SUCCESSFUL!!

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please contact Shannon or Stacey by email:
shannonmmcdonald@yahoo.com
stacey@sternproperties.biz

This is going to be a great evening for all Harmony parents (past and present), teachers, friends and supporters! LET'S GET ROASTED!

PTO Meeting

Everyone is invited to the PTO meeting on Tuesday 10/20/09 at 5:45pm.
Since this is also the Harmony Family Night at Hooligan's, the meeting will be held at the restaurant. Ms. Jan will be available (donation suggested) to keep the kiddies in order while we work thru some leftover business from the last meeting.

Harmony Night at Hooligan's

Tuesday 10/20 is Harmony Family Night at Hooligan's Deli at Trenholm Plaza. Hooligan's will donate 20% of all Harmony purchases back to the school.

Hooligan's offers this fundraising opportunity on the third Tuesday of every month.
Thanks Hooligan's!! See you there!!

School Pictures

Tuesday, October 13 - Two Important Notes

1) Make-up picture day for students who missed the original date

2) Pick-up pictures (from original day & make up day) from 2:30-5:30 pm

3 Month Family Membership to Ray's Splash Planet Donated to Harmony School Silent Auction

Ray's Splash Planet

3 Month Family Membership

Donated by Mecklenburg County

Park and Recreation Department

Charlotte, North Carolina

Ray's Splash Planet is unlike anything in the Carolinas. The facility includes a one-of-a-kind water park with fun-filled features. The Planet is home to afitness center with aerobic & dance room, cardiovascular theater, freeweights and resistance equipment. Ray's Splash Planet also contains party rooms available for reservations, a new playground, concessions and other recreation-based features. Concessions available at the Planet include pizza, corn/hot dogs, ice cream, potato chips, soft drinks, healthy snacks/drinks and more. Ray's Splash Planet offers yearly and monthly memberships as well as single-visit entry fees.

Visit www.harmonyauction.blogspot.com for more info!

International Day of Peace

Dear Harmony Families,

This Sunday, Sept. 20th is our International Day of Peace at the
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on the corner of Heyward and Woodrow St. in Shandon. The festival starts at 3:00 and the Harmony children will perform (singing) at 3:45pm. Please have your child(ren) at the UU no later than 3:30! If for any reason your child cannot make it for the performance, please let your child's teacher know by Friday. There will be plenty of entertainment and arts and craft activities for the children from 3-6 pm.

One art table will have a silk screening activity for the children. Please have your child bring a t-shirt for this or purchase a t-shirt at the booth. The cost to silk screen your own shirt will be
$2.00(cost of ink) if you purchase a white t-shirt from the booth to silk screen it will cost $5.00.

I hope most everyone can make this event to help with our "Pennies for
Peace" campaign! This event is FREE, however we are asking for donations for a great cause!!!

Thank you......
Peace,
Debbie

Seeking New Board Member

The Harmony School Board would like to fill an open seat. Being a board member is a fulfilling way to give back to Harmony. The work is not necessarily easy, but the effort put into working together to help build a strong school is well worth it. The board makes decisions and advises on numerous aspects of running a non-profit school, including curriculum, operations, staff, finances, development, community, and building.

The board meets at least once a month, more often if need be. We also communicate frequently through email. In addition, board members are expected to support the school as much as possible by attending Harmony events.

Interested applicants should send a resume and letter of interest that provides a summary of the skill set you can contribute to the board to Michelle Cooper. Please have materials in by October 1.

Please direct any questions to Michelle Cooper. Michelle's email is rogersm8@mailbox.sc.edu

Thank you,

Harmony Board

Our annual Oyster Roast and Silent Auction takes place on Saturday, November 7^th – this is our biggest fundraiser of the year!

For the 4th consecutive year, Harmony is hosting a fantastic evening featuring live music by Danielle Howle, Reggae Infinity, David & Ryan’s Steel Drum Band and John & Chuck (from The Project) along with hot steamed oysters, chilled beer and wine and numerous varieties of warm, homemade chili. We’ll also have an awesome silent auction with items such as travel accommodations, jewelry, children’s clothing and original hand-made art - all available to the highest (silent) bidder!

In order for this event to be successful, we depend on the participation of all Harmony families. There are numerous ways you can contribute:

- Solicit local businesses for donations – cash donations and auction items are needed

- Help spread the word – email your friends, coworkers and family members

- Sell tickets (tickets are $30 and include food, beverages and live entertainment)

- Volunteer to cook chili or lend a hand on the night of the event

- Volunteer to set up before or clean up after the event

- Buy a ticket and come enjoy the Oyster roast!!

A few documents are available that you can use to make the process of collecting donations a bit easier (available at the school):

- A letter to potential donors explaining the event;

- Sponsorship information;

- Donor Form (to be included with any donation)

- Children’s Chance – agency information – we are partnering with them this year – they will help us raise money/sell tickets and we will donate a portion of the proceeds to their organization. A win-win arrangement!

Please start contacting businesses who can donate items to the auction and/or provide financial sponsorship for the event now! We have already started a blog to thank donors and provide a peek at what items will be available at the silent auction – please visit www.harmonyauction.blogspot.com and start spreading the word about this awesome event!

QUESTIONS? Contact Shannon at 787-1899 or shannonmmcdonald@yahoo.com or

Stacey at 201-0900 or stacey@sternproperties.biz

Don't Miss!!

Come join us for Harmony School’s

1st Annual

Welcome Back to School

Get Together

Sunday August 30, 2009

4-6 pm

Bring the family! The children can play while the adults get a chance to mingle!

Light Snacks will be provided courtesy of the PTO. Please feel free to bring a blanket or some chairs.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Welcome from Debbie

Dear Parents,

I hope everyone had a wonderful summer because it's time to start back to school!!

This Fall our staff of teachers will be Carroll, Tiffany, Beth, Shelley, Kat and Debbie in the morning. In our afternoon program there will be Henri Ann, Caroline, Travis (subbing for Holly who will start on Friday, August 21st) and Jan.

Shannon will be in the office to answer any questions you may have. She is in the office from 8:15-2:45.

The 2009-10 school year is going to be exciting with new challenges! We have our new preschool classroom! We are planning for the children to have some fun field trips, many projects and plenty of stimulating classroom activities for them to become absorbed. We will be studying about our body, food and nutrition and our senses.

Our parent/teacher meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 19th form 7:00-8:30. At that time we will hand out beginning of the year information, discuss the preschool/k and elementary program, meet our Board of Directors and answer any questions you might have. Please Attend!! We will provide child care.

Well, that's about all. You are invited to visit the classroom once school has started, but give us a few weeks to settle in with the children and routine. Parents of kindergartners, remember that your child MUST be at school NO later than 8:30 preferably earlier. Parents of elementary children, remember that your child MUST be at school NO later than 8:15 preferably earlier!

We are so glad you are here! Welcome to you all !!!!!!

Thank you ,

Debbie

Volunteers Needed

The plans for the 2009 Oyster Roast & Silent Auction are underway. Exact date TBA but tentatively scheduled for November. Volunteer parents are needed for a few tasks - if you can pitch in 3-4 hours per week, your assistance would be GREATLY appreciated!

Needed:
2-4 parents to make phone calls (now thru November)
1 parent to organize data in excel or access (needed now and occasionally until event)
2 parents to write thank-you notes (mainly in Oct/Nov)

Additional help will be needed in November as the event takes shape. If you can lend a hand now, please contact stacey by email stacey@sternproperties.biz or phone 201-0900.

Thanks!

Columbia Moms Like Me group needs posts

There is a new group on the www.Columbia.momslikeme.com site called Harmony School. It would be great if parents would visit this site and leave a "testimonial" of some sort speaking to your experience with Harmony. This site reaches many families of preschool-aged children who are always looking for quality programs for their kids - there are already over 20 members of the group! Feel free to post pictures and events and as usual, please share the link with anyone you think would be interested in Harmony School.

From the main page of Columbia.momslikeme.com, select GROUPS, EDUCATION, and then Harmony School. See you there!!

Summer Fun starts Monday 6/1

The summer fun program starts Monday!

If you haven't received the activities schedule for your child, give Shannon a call. The school has so many fun activities planned - the kids are going to love it!

Spring Break!!

Don't forget to read the proposals (below) regarding inclement weather and the annual picnic.
Also, if you are interested in signing up for the drumming lessons, there are 2 spaces remaining.
See the google posting from earlier this week or the sign-up sheet from the parent pocket for additional information. Class starts Thursday, April 16 at 6:30pm.

Enjoy the break!

Inclement Weather Policy

From the Harmony Board

Dear Harmony Parent:

The school administration and board are exploring the possibility of changing the school's inclement weather policy. The existing policy is to close or delay if Richland School District One is closed or on a delay.

Under consideration is changing the policy so that on days of potentially enclement weather, school administration make the dicision to close by a time (to be determined later). This change would allow a school closing to be based on actual weather conditions on the day in question rather than automatically follow Richland School District One's lead.

Please give us your thoughts on two things:

1. Continue to follow Richland One's schedule to close or delay in inclement weather.
2. Remain open unless Harmony administration deems a need to close or delay due to
inclement weather.

Add a comment to discuss. Cast a vote on the left.

School Picnic - Please Discuss

From the Harmony Board

Dear Harmony Parents,
The end of the year family picnic is a fun opportunity for Harmony students and families to gather together. In the past, the picnic has been held during the students' lunch time and families are responsible for bringing their own lunch. This year it is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13.

It's been proposed that we consider making this an after-school potluck cookout to give families more of an opportunity to socialize together. If held after school, we could grill out and families could bring sides.

Please share your thoughts on keeping this fun event A) during the students' lunchtime or B) moving it to an after school & after work time.

You may post comments to discuss this proposal. Cast your vote on the left.

EVENTS

Is anyone interested in learning the same drumming techniques the students learn during their spring drumming residency? Lee Ann Kornegay is offering to teach us! Need to know how many folks are interested in order to make arrangements. also, what day/time is best? email stacey@sternproperties.biz with response

REMINDERS

QUESTIONS

NEWS

IDEAS

A Place to Communicate

Some parents like to email, some like to use the google-groups...then there are the parent pockets, cubbies and the hallway whiteboards. Plenty of ways for parents to keep in touch with the school and each other, right?
Well, guess again! There have been requests (even a demand or two...) for more ways for us to communicate. I used a blog to keep track of the Silent Auction activity and it worked well for me so I'm putting this blog up for the parents and friends of Harmony to use as needed.

Have a question or an idea? Post it!
Know the answer to someone's question? Post it!
Want to get something off your chest? Post it!
Start a discussion!! Don't be shy - let's talk!

I'm going to list some categories - to start a conversation or respond to a posting, click comment. You can also subscribe to the blog (as a follower - on the right side of the page)and receive notification when comments are added or changes are made. Want more categories? No problem - let me know stacey@sternproperties.biz Let's give it a whirl!!

And even though I started it, this isn't my blog. It's ours.
stacey hamilton leroy (delaney's mom)