3/1       Mon     ISAT Testing Begins for grades 3^rd – 5^th through March 12^th.  See below.

3/8       Mon     PTA Meeting                                                                            7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

3/17     Wed    UMS Spring Music Tour                                                       1:00 – 1:30 p.m.

3/19     Fri        Staff Development Day – No School for Students

3/22 – 3/26      Spring Break

3/29     Mon     School Resumes

3/31     Wed    Risk Watch Poison Prevention Assemblies             9:00 & 9:30 a.m.

        Thank you to everyone who helped with the Teacher Appreciation Dinner at Parent/Teacher conferences. It was wonderful and delicious and oh so appreciated!

        Third and Fourth grade classes will be taking the ISAT test next week.  Fifth grade classes will test the week of March 8^th.  Please do not schedule any appointments during the testing dates and help your child to do his/her best by making sure they get adequate sleep during this period, they start the day with a good breakfast, and that they arrive to school on time on those days.                                                                                 Thanks.

        If you receive an automated attendance call from the district, please call the school office to let us know the reason your child is not at school that day.  District policy requires you notify the school of the reason for an absence in order to list that absence as excused.  Thank you.

From Linda Z:  I have applied for a microgrant project through WEARETEACHERS to continue maintaining and growing gardens at Leal. Five grants will be awarded $200 plus a FLIP camcorder, based upon how many votes it gets. If you have time to vote for my grant, I’d appreciate it. Ask your friends to vote. I’d love to continue making school garden areas that the students want to be in! I just continue to need resources.   Here’s the link: http://www.weareteachers.com/web/natural-and-social-sciences/mg_voteIt’s in alphabetical order, so find mine on page 17 and vote YES! Thanks! THINK SPRING!                                                                                      See you outside, maybe in the garden,                                                            Linda Zimmerman

The Urbana School Board is reviewing proposals for over $2 million in cuts for the upcoming year. There are several ways parents can voice concerns or provide input about these potential cuts. 

1. If you are familiar with reading budgets and have recommendations for where cuts could be made, you can complete a district budget reduction survey at this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HL86DXW.  A full copy of the district budget for 2009-2010 (current year) is located at http://www.usd116.org/files/budget/0910budget.pdf.

2. If you would like to write a letter to express your opinion about the importance of any program/service that is proposed to be cut, you can send your letter to Lori Johnson (ljohnson@usd116.org) who will distribute letters to Urbana School District Board members prior to scheduled meetings on Feb 23^rd, Feb 27^th and Mar 9^th. There are also pre-addressed postcards on the Leal PTA table for your use.

3. There will be also be a time for public comment before each of the next 3 Urbana School Board meetings if you want to attend and verbally share your input. Public comment meetings will be held Feb 23rd at 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, Feb 27th at 10:00 a.m.; Tuesday March 9th at 5:30. Board meetings are held at the Urbana Schools Central Administration Building located at 205 N. Race Street in Urbana.5