HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
Happy Hearts Day to everyone!  Valentine’s Day is a time when love and loving actions are fostered, recognized, and celebrated. Why is it important enough to recognize through an approved activity? Its because “love” itself cannot be taken for granted. Just ask all the people who can’t or don’t look forward to receiving warm, heartfelt thoughts! Also, it is another way to actually emphasize God’s greatest commandment as found in Mark 12:31 “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”           

FOURTH GRADE PARENT MEETINGS
The meetings for parents of 4th graders to speak with the principal have been moved back—“same time, same station”—one week. That is, I will be available to meet with the 4th grade parents (in a group discussion format) on Tuesday, February 19th and Wednesday, February 20th, from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm. Come either day, but do come to discuss next year’s plans for your child.

2ND QUARTER AWARDS ASSEMBLY
Quarterly Awards Assembly had to be postponed this week due to the inclement weather school closings. THE ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR NEXT TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH DURING THE (SLIGHTLY EXTENDED) CHAPEL TIME.

IMPORTANT DATES AHEAD
Friday, February 1st………………………SY 2008-2009 Enrollment Intention Letters DUE
Thursday, February 14th…………………Annual School wide Valentine’s Day Party
Monday, February 18th. …………………Presidents’ Day SCHOOL IS CLOSED

“THANX” FOR MAKING LAST WEEK’S CACTUS WILLIES EVENT A SUCCESSFUL ONE!
Thanks to you, our school made $154.87 from your participation in our second of three Cactus Willies event. Our next “evening out” at Cactus Willies is scheduled for Thursday, May 22n

VOLUNTEER HOURS REVISITED
DUE TO YOUR MANY INQUIRIES, WE ARE REPRINTING OUR FAQ’s ABOUT VOLUNTEER HOURS. PLEASE NOTE THE ONE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE (HIGHLIGHTED)

WHAT IS THE VOLUNTEER HOURS OBLIGATION?
Parents are to volunteer at the rate of one (1) hour per parent, per month, each month.
WHAT IF I/WE HAVE MORE THAN ONE CHILD AT CCA?
It’s the same: one hour per parent in the household, no matter how many CCA children are in the home.
ISN’T IT TEN HOURS PER PARENT, PER YEAR, WHENEVER WE CAN GET THEM IN?
That’s what it ends up being, but we have to stipulate a monthly number of hours to be done so that the billing/invoice system makes sense.  Keeping track of and trying to collect for all hours done/not done by the end of the year would be impossible.
ARE THE HOURS SPENT ACCOMPANYING (ONLY) MY CHILD ON FIELD TRIPS ALLOWABLE AS VOLUNTEER HOURS?
YES! And this is a change. Previously, we had not counted hours spent accompanying your own child on field trips as volunteer-eligible because there was no discernable activity or responsibility that could be identified as “volunteering assistance”. However, after consulting with the staff, teachers felt that any parent coming to assist with any child is of great value—even for the parent’s own child.  So, yes, volunteer hours will be awarded for going on your child’s field trip, whether or not you work with other children.
WILL CCA SEND A REMINDER NOTICE BEFORE ITS TOO LATE TO “DO THE TIME”?
Yes, a general notice will be printed in the Parent Update approximately 3 weeks to 1 month prior to the issuance of report cards. This will notify parents of the last day to log volunteer hours. That day will be between 1 to 2 weeks before the actual report cards are issued to permit us time to tabulate the hours & obligations.
I/WE VOLUNTEERED 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE REPORT CARDS AND STILL GOT INVOICED!!
That’s because it was after the time to log the hours. We have to have sufficient time to process the volunteer hours accounts. (See the explanation above). In such cases, those hours will be counted toward the next quarter’s obligation.
CAN OTHER HOURS BE “CARRIED OVER” TO THE NEXT QUARTER? THE NEXT YEAR??
YES. If a family completes their obligation in the 1st or 2nd quarter, it’s done. If a parent completes hours beyond the 10 annual hours, then ten percent (10%) may be carried over into the next year, BUT you will have to request that action.
ARE THESE DATES ON A CALENDAR SOMEWHERE?
YES—they are on the calendar given out at Parent Orientation and on the website. Look for dates in October, January, March, and May that say “Parents’ Last Day to Log Q-1 (or 2, 3, 4) Volunteer Hours

SPEAKING OF VOLUNTEERING  .  .  .
An opportunity has arisen: we need a parent with music ability (piano) to assist with our CCA choir. Are you . . . Talented? Interested? Available? Must have all three qualities to apply!