Welcome back Garvin! GOSH stands for Garvin Organization for School and Home and is our PTO.

Yearbook Photo Launch

Planning on attending any exciting Garvin events in the upcoming months? If so, take along your camera for capturing some candid moments. If you care to share your photos with our yearbook staff, simply transfer your digital photos onto a CD and pop it into the GOSH mailbox located in the office addressed to 'Yearbook Staff.'Please indicate if you'd like to have your CD returned to you by including your name and your child's name to have it sent home by backpack. Lifetouch is took school photos on 9/11, and the launch is on for all other photos! We'll be snapping and accepting pictures through December.Thank you!

Teacher Notes

Mrs. Emery, art teacher, is collecting grocery bags for a map project. Please send any that you can. Thank you in advance.

New Website

We’re on the web @ teacherpage.com/garvinmemorial. Thank you to Kelly Dwyer for getting Garvin’s new website up and running. You will find a link for GOSH, as well as other Garvin-related information.

Enrichment Program

This month, students will enjoy Healthy Choices by Robert Rivest. It is a high-energy comedy program in which health and humor go hand in hand. Students will see comic, insightful reminders that healthy choices everyday improve our lives in every way.

Activities

GOSH organizes several activities during the school year. Please refer to page 2 for descriptions.

This year several are in need of NEW CHAIRPERSONS as our 5th grade parents have or will be moving onto McCourt Middle School. If you are interested in becoming the chairperson for any of the following: Harvest Dance, Holiday Event, Talent Show, Jog-a-Thon, Field Day, please email Jeni Mowry, . You would have the opportunity to “shadow” this year’s chair for most of the listed activities.


Also looking for assistance in the following activities. If interesting in volunteering, please contact the chairperson noted.

Yearbook, Nicole Cook ()

Harvest Dance, Bonnie Drezek ()

Sweetheart Dance, Melani Santos ()

Field Day, Amanda McLaughlin ()

Thanks in advance for your time and support!

Fundraising News

Participation in a fundraiser is VOLUNTARY. We are providing a number of different choices this year. The hope is that one or more tickles your fancy and is something you and your child can be excited about while helping to support the programs and activities GOSH organizes.

To help you plan, the fundraisers scheduled so far:

Sep: Fall Fundraiser (Stacey Adams, ), Duck Race (Laurie Kissik, ), Vidbel’s Old Time Circus (Laurie Kissik, )

Oct: Booth at Duck Race (Laurie Kissik, ), Entertainment Books (Melani Santos, )

Nov: Ye Old Candle Mill (Anna Pierce, )

Apr/May: Jog-a-Thon (Barbara Mammano, )

Ongoing:

Box Tops: (Edie Coelho, ) Last year we netted $1027 just by Garvin families clipping Box Tops! For more information and to enter for a chance to earn BONUS Box Tops, visit boxtops4education.com. Box Tops are submitted twice a year: October 31 and February 28. The classroom that collects the MOST Box Tops for each submission earns a pizza party.

Campbell’s Labels: (Edie Coelho, ) Labels for Education are found on MORE than just Campbell Soups! Pepperidge Farms Goldfish and V8 beverages are just a couple more examples. Visit labelsforeducation.com for a list of products and program information.

Drink Pouch Brigade: (Melani Santos, ) Earning cash for trash! We receive $0.02 per drink pouch from terracycle.net. Students are encouraged to place pouches in a collection box in the cafeteria. Families are encouraged to collect and send into school (please remove straws).

GoodSearch.com: Each Web search done via GoodSearch.com will generate approximately $0.01. Fifty percent of the revenue generated from advertisers on GoodSearch is shared with the charity, school or nonprofit organization of your choosing. GoodSearch.com is powered by Yahoo! so you'll get high-quality search results!

Ink Cartridges: (Edie Coelho, ) This is a quick and easy way to earn money or technology supplies - without selling or buying! Send in your empty cartridges to be recycled. Please visit dazz-cycle.com (formerly Kartridges For Kidz) to confirm if your cartridge is on the Acceptable Cartridge List.

PLEASE bring any and ALL new fundraising ideas to a GOSH board member or during a monthly GOSH meeting.

September GOSH Newsletter Page 2

We want to try and make it easier for everyone to understand the different events at GOSH, as well as make the opportunity for you to become involved with these events more convenient! On this page you will find a listing of several events/activities that take place throughout the school year, and their descriptions. GOSH is open to all parents/guardians who want to be involved in the school, events happening at the school, and their child’s education. We are hoping to have a large population participate in at least one of the many events we have.

Book Fair: The Book Fair runs in the winter and spring. The winter Book Fair has coincided with our Holiday Event. Children will have the opportunity to purchase books during school hours a couple days before our Holiday Event. A notice is sent home to let you know which classes will be attending which day. You are welcome to send in money with your child for them to purchase a book. We do need volunteers to work during the book fair, collecting money and most importantly, helping the kids pick out their books. Parents and family members can come and purchase books during Holiday Event. Throughout the book fair, teachers often put in their “wish list” if anyone wants to purchase a book for a specific teacher’s classroom.

Field Day (Chair needed): Probably the most anticipated day of the school year! Hooray! Field Day is typically held on a Friday in mid-late June. The children participate in a variety of field day activities throughout the day. Some of these include Carnival Games, Field Games (potato sack races, relay races), Tug-of-war, Kickball, Storytelling, to name a few. One of the highlights is a rented “bouncy obstacle course”. We also have a cookout for lunch and then the entire school is treated to a special guest speaker/magician.

Fundraiser (Chairs needed): Fundraisers areGOSH's primary source of income and allowus to put on many of theevents (Enrichment Programs, Yearbook, Harvest Dance, Field Day, etc.) our children receive at school. Always open to new ways to fundraise. Please bring suggestions to the attention of any board member or during GOSH meeting. You may make a tax-deductible donation to GOSH for any amount, at anytime throughout the year.

Harvest Dance: The Harvest Dance usually takes place during the end of October, and is held at the Joseph L. McCourt Middle School. This dance is a true Family Dance and all members of the student’s family are welcome to attend. There is a DJ for dancing, raffle tickets, prizes and a photographer who will take family portraits (there is a fee involved for the photo). This dance does charge a small entry fee and proceeds go toward the DJ service and the space rental. Only drinks are served at this dance – no snacks or food. This is a great chance for the Garvin Families to get to know one another and have a great time!

Holiday Event (Chair needed): Looking for a person to offer a fresh take for a Holiday event to tentatively take place on the first Friday or Saturday in December. Format of past events was a “elf shop” set up for the Garvin students to come in and “shop” for gifts for their family members. Some of the gifts include “I love you Mom” frames, or jewelry boxes, “Best Grandpa/Dad” tape measures, etc. There was also a craft shop where the students, along with their parent/guardian can make a special craft.

Jog-a-Thon (Chair needed): The Jog-a-Thon was introduced to Garvin 3 years ago as a fundraiser. Last year added over $5,000 to the GOSH general fund. The entire school participates in this event during the lunch/recess period in the spring outside on the baseball field. Students are asked to get “sponsors” for each lap they anticipate they will jog. School wide goals and prizes awarded for different levels. The students practice and get into shape during their gym periods in order to be prepared for this event. You may even see some “Garvin Jog-a-Thon” t-shirts walking around.

Mother/Son Event: A Mother/Son event is typically held early spring. Past events included bowling and P-Bruins game. Andrea Cournoyer graciously stepped up to lead and is looking for ideas, as well as volunteers to assist her.

Playground Maintenance (Chair needed): Each year we are in of need playground-approved chip to meet safety standards. Looking for someone who might know how to get the most for our money or a company that would like to donate 120 yards to resurface the area for the children. Parent, Lori Berard, graciously volunteered to do light maintenance – tighten bolts and remove graffiti.

Sweetheart Dance: This is usually held in March/April and is open to any girl enrolled at Garvin and her escort. Typically, it is an opportunity for daughters and dad (or other father figure) to get dressed up and attend a Garvin sponsored dance. We do have a DJ for the event and in the past it has been held at the Knights of Columbus on Route 123 in South Attleboro. It is a catered event, and the families are responsible for bringing dessert and drinks. There is a photographer on hand for “formal” photos (at a fee). This has been a highlight for many of the girls throughout the years.

Talent Show/Bake Sale (Chair needed): This event has taken place for three years now, and is open to all students, on a first come, first served basis. Students can enter acts into the talent show as solos or in groups, or in some cases, even by classroom. There is an opening right now for someone to take the lead of this event. The acts are limited to 3 minutes each, and a total of 30 acts can perform. We also incorporate an art show to showcase the student’s private, or classroom artwork. Lastly, there is a Bake Sale that has proven to be very successful! There is a small fee for attendance, this event is held at Joseph L. McCourt Middle School and family and friends are welcome!

Yearbook: Working with Lifetouch, the committee creates a wonderful memento of a year at Garvin. The committee, lead by Barbara Lanoue, is currently seeking 1 – 2 assistants to capture moments at school and GOSH-sponsored events. What better excuse to be in the school and see what’s going on!

Volunteers are needed for ALL events. If interested in chairing or volunteering, please email Jeni Mowry at or send a note addressed to GOSH into school with your child.

Thank you in advance!