Readathon Thank You!
The Holland Hill PTA would like to that all of the Holland Hill community who contributed
to the Readathon. With everyone’s efforts, we were able to raise over $8,000, which
makes the Readathon a huge success! It was all possible because each person contributed
in some way. Form our wonderful teachers and HH staff, to parent and family donations,
to children reading, reading, reading, and the Readathon Committee keeping it all
going.
Through your generous contributions our PTA has more money to put towards the costs
of PTA-sponsored enrichment programs at Holland Hill. These programs include field
trips, author visits, cultural and fine art programs, teacher and library grants,
summer library hours, and on and on. Thank you so much for supporting the PTA so
that we can provide these programs to each and every child!
Congratulations to our prize winners!
* Most donations: Sophie Lemley, Croix Richarson and John Vallillo
* Most minutes read school-wide: Stravan Parimi
* Most minutes read, K-1: Drew Richthammer and Maren Burns
* Most minutes read, 2-3: Will Shostak and Alexandra Barringon
* Most minutes read,4-5: Brendan Devine and Nadia Rashenets
* Classroom most minutes read: 1M, 3R and 5S
We hope that everyone enjoyed the Readathon and had FUN reading!!

This Week…
Tuesday     Jump Rope Club 7:45 am
Talent Show rehearsal
Thursday     Jump Rope Club 7:45am
Friday       Talent Show rehearsal
School Store

Art Curriculum Focus Group
Wednesday, Feb 15th
Elementary School PARENT FOCUS GROUP regarding Art Curriculum  2/15 at  7 pm at
Warde HS Any parent of a elementary school child is Encouraged to attend and be
heard.

Capri Sun Packet Recycling
Holland Hill is starting up a RECYCLING program for CAPRI SUN PACKETS. There is
a box in the APR to collect them. Please deposit EMPTY packets in the box and we
will recycle them and earn $$ for Holland Hill. You can also send empty packets
in from home via backpacks in sealed plastic bags. Please help up collect a TON,
Save them from a landfill, and Support Holland Hill!!!! If you have any questions,
please contact Jenn atjmhill22@yahoo.com.

School Store
Friday, Feb 17th
Save your change and come and check out all of our great new items at the school
store. The next school store will be Friday February 17th at your class’s recess.
For any special Valentine you may have forgotten we have plenty to choose from
or maybe just a special treat for yourself. Pens, pencils, keychains, skateboards,
jewlery erasers and much more!!!!!! Volunteers are always welcome between 10:30
and 12:45. If there are any questions please contact me Michele Scholz 203–913-5308
or getupkid@optonline.net.
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Box Tops
DEADLINE:  Friday, Feb 17th
This is the last week for our Box Tops Football contest, and it’s a very close race.
What can you do to propel your team to victory?? Here are the current standings:
Second grade Steelers…87 yards (875 box tops)
Fourth grade Falcons…64 yards (648 box tops)
Fifth grade Vikings…63 yards (639 box tops)
First grade Broncos…52 yards (523 box tops)
Third grade Titans…33 yards (330 box tops)
Kindergarten Chargers…28 yards (283 box tops)

Pasta Night
Thursday, Mar 1st
DON’T MISS OUT!!!!!   ACT FAST!!!!
5th Grade PASTA DINNER NIGHT
Great Family Night Out
Come support Our Very Own 5th Graders
Please RSVP by FEBRUARY 17, 2012
LAST YEAR’S EVENT SOLD OUT SO ORDER EARLY!!!!

Summer Camp Open House
Tuesday, Mar 6th  7-9pm
SUMMER CAMP OPEN HOUSE: Please join us for a unique opportunity to meet and explore
many of the finest summer camp and activity opportunities in the area – all conveniently
located under one roof inside the Fairfield Woods Gym! To assist you with your summer
plans for the kids, we have invited a variety of camp providers, from sports to
theater and everything in between, to come and share their offerings. This PTA sponsored
event will take place on Tues, Mar 6th from 7-9 PM at the Fairfield Woods Middle
School Gym.
Any questions, please contact Lisa Kilgallon (lkilgallon@msn.com) or Anthony Calabrese
(acalabrese@town.fairfield.ct.us).

Cub Scout News
Friday, Mar 16th
Cub Scout Pack 89 invites all boys at Holland Hill to come see our Pinewood Derby
on Friday, March 16th. If your son is interested in scouting this is a great event
to check us out.
See the attached flyer for details and be sure to fill out the form and return it
so they we know you are coming. Don’t miss this exciting race!

Advertise & Support Your Children
in the Talent Show
DEADLINE:  Thursday, April 1st
Wish Your Child ‘Good Luck!’ or Advertise Your Business!
The 2012 Holland Hill Elementary School Talent Show invites you to promote your
business, or to congratulate or acknowledge the accomplishments of a talent show
participant by purchasing ad space in our complementary souvenir program. In past
seasons, the Holland Hill Talent Show has attracted hundreds in audience. Proceeds
from ad sales go directly to offsetting contracted services and other costs associated
with organizing this show.

Buy a Brick
Thank you to all who have purchased a brick for the walkway so far! Brick sales
are still ongoing, and are now priced at $50 for your first brick, and $40 for each
additional brick purchased. You can have your brick engraved with any message: your
child’s name and graduation year, your family name… the possibilities are endless!
Click here
to download the form to purchase your brick. All profits go to our PTA–order your
custom “piece of HH” today!
If you paid for a brick at the singalong, but haven’t turned in the form yet, please
be sure to note your form of payment on the form itself. Thanks! Any questions,
please contact Tracie Haner Valentino at tracie@traciedesigns.net.

Jump Rope Club
Tuesdays and Thursdays    7:45am
Our famous Jump Rope Club is still going strong! This is a “come as you want” open
jump rope session for ANY student who would like to come! All you need is a signed
permission/waiver form (see attached flyer–students need this BEFORE they are allowed
to participate) and sneakers. Parent volunteers are encouraged and welcome–it’s
a great start to your day, as well as your kid’s! Every Tuesday and Thursday before
school from 7:45AM to 8:00AM in the gym.

From Your Principal:
This week includes important events.  Our PTA sponsored Fun and Fitness Night is
on Thursday, February 9.  More info on this special event will be found in this
issue of the Howl.  A big thank you goes out to our own Miss K. for volunteering
her services to run this wonderful event for us.  Also, don’t forget that this Tuesday,
February 7 is an EARLY DISMISSAL DAY-ALL STUDENTS WILL BE DISMISSED AT 12:50 PM.
Thanks in advance for all that you will be doing to make sure that your children
are picked up on time on this day.
I sent out word to all last month regarding safety in our parking lot.  Your attention
to the rules that were highlighted will help to ensure a safe start and end to each
and every day at Holland Hill.  I thank you for making this happen.
I see one other area that could use some attention and that is making sure that
all of our children are in their classrooms, ready for school by 8:10 a.m. each
and every morning.
Our school day throughout the year is as follows:
7:50 a.m. Drop Off – First Bell 8:00 a.m. Second Bell rings at 8:10 a.m. and children
must be in classrooms.  Students who enter the school after the second bell rings
are marked tardy.
Coming to school after 8:10 means a child will have to take up precious lesson time
while getting him/herself settled in for the day.  Frequent tardiness to school
can also have a negative impact on a child’s attitude toward punctuality in general
and the importance of school in particular.
We all can appreciate that there are days in which it can’t be helped.   I do know
that the reasons for tardiness are varied and personal to each child and family.
A pattern that results in frequent tardiness is a concern to the school and our
responsibility toward the child.  I thank you in advance for keeping this in mind
as we move into the coming school months.

Enjoy your week.
Mr. Arnone

This Week…
Tuesday     Jump Rope Club 7:45 am
Early Dismissal
Thursday     Jump Rope Club 7:45am
Family Fitness Night 5-8:30
Friday       Talent Show rehearsal

Readathon
DEADLINE: Tuesday, Feb 7th
Readathon tracking sheets, donations and reading logs due!
If you haven’t already, please send in your Readathon tracking sheets, donations
and reading logs in an envelope via the backpack marked PTA Readathon. In order
for your child to be eligible for prizes, all tracking sheets, donations and reading
logs must be received no later than TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7! We hope everyone had fun
reading and earning money for their school! The Holland Hill PTA appreciates your
support and participation!

Family Fitness and Fun Night
Thursday, Feb 9th
REMINDER: Family Fitness and Fun Night is Thursday, February 9! Pre-Registration
Required!
Wonder what fun games your kids are learning in PE?  What is the game Fruit Salad?
Come join us for a night of fun physical activities designed for children to play
together with their families!  Family Fitness and Fun night will be held on Thursday,
February 9,  2012.  Sign-up is required, just PRINT the attached sign-up form and
waiver/code of conduct and return in an envelope marked FFFN by Tuesday, February7th.
Please read the attached flyer for important information and times for this great
event.  Join Ms. K, Mr. Arnone and the Wellness Committee for a night of Fitness
Fun!

*Please note: For safety reasons this event is open only to Holland Hill students
and their parents.  Siblings not at Holland Hill may not participate.  This is NOT
a drop-off event.

Box Tops
DEADLINE:  Friday, Feb 17th
The Box Tops Football contest is well underway, so keep those box tops coming!
Right now, it’s anyone’s game. Here are the current standings:
Second grade Steelers…64 yards (646 box tops)
Fifth grade Vikings…54 yards (541 box tops)
First grade Broncos…42 yards (427 box tops)
Fourth grade Falcons…37 yards (375 box tops)
Third grade Titans…31 yards (312 box tops)
Kindergarten Chargers…25 yards (250 box tops)

HSFC Tip
Health, Safety and Fitness Committee (HSFC) Tip…Did you know…?
Connecticut’s concussion bill was signed into law by former Gov. Jodi Rell on May
19, 2011.
The law requires:
* Education of coaches, parents, athletes
* Removal from play of any athlete suspected of having sustained a concussion
* Requires written authorization from a medical professional before the athlete
can return to practice/game
For more information, click here

Veggie of the Month
The February Veggie of the Month is Mushrooms! The Fuel for Learning Partnership
has teamed up with OHS mom and cooking instructor, Tracy Holleran Mattus to create
a new, kid-friendly recipe featuring the selected vegetable each month. For this
month’s recipe, Mushroom Quesadillas, go to Tracy’s blog, The Secret Ingredient,
at The Connecticut Post. The Veggie of the Month recipe will be posted the first
Thursday of each month. Up for March–escarole! For more info about The Veggie
Pledge, go to www.veggiepledge.org.

School Garden
Spring is a time for new beginnings! We are looking for a School Garden Coordinator/Parent
Lead for Holland Hill’s school garden. We have some wonderful faculty support but
need a parent volunteer to coordinate and lead the efforts beginning this spring
and going forward. We also would love to have parent volunteers who can lend a
hand when necessary. There is a community-wide meeting on February 16 where everyone
involved in the school garden projects will meet, share stories and talk about upcoming
plans. It’s a great time to step in!  Please contact Linda Soper-Kolton for more
details lsoper123@green

Save the Date
5th Grade Pasta Dinner Fundraiser
March 1st
2 seatings:  4:30 and 6:45
More details to follow

Summer Camp Open House
Tuesday, Mar 6th  7-9pm
SUMMER CAMP OPEN HOUSE: Please join us for a unique opportunity to meet and explore
many of the finest summer camp and activity opportunities in the area – all conveniently
located under one roof inside the Fairfield Woods Gym! To assist you with your summer
plans for the kids, we have invited a variety of camp providers, from sports to
theater and everything in between, to come and share their offerings. This PTA sponsored
event will take place on Tues, Mar 6th from 7-9 PM at the Fairfield Woods Middle
School Gym.
Any questions, please contact Lisa Kilgallon  or Anthony Calabrese

Cub Scout News
Friday, Mar 16th
Cub Scout Pack 89 invites all boys at Holland Hill to come see our Pinewood Derby
on Friday, March 16th. If your son is interested in scouting this is a great event
to check us out.
See the attached flyer for details and be sure to fill out the form and return it
so they we know you are coming. Don’t miss this exciting race!

Holland Hill Budget
We want to encourage all parents to have a voice in regards to the Holland Hill
School budget. There will be another budget meeting on 4/23/12 at the Board of Ed
building in Fairfield CT.  We also encourage you to reach out to the RTM members
as soon as possible in our Holland HIll district letting them know if you have
any concerns or if you support the budget changes.  You can see a detailed list
of the Holland Hill School budget by clicking here.
You can find the RTM members on page 4 of your Holland Hill Directory or you can
also find their names on the town website (look for District 8 or 10 RTM Members).  Your
voice counts so please speak up.

Buy a Brick
Thank you to all who have purchased a brick for the walkway so far! Brick sales
are still ongoing, and are now priced at $50 for your first brick, and $40 for each
additional brick purchased. You can have your brick engraved with any message: your
child’s name and graduation year, your family name… the possibilities are endless!
Click here to download the form to purchase your brick. All profits go to our PTA–order your custom “piece of HH” today!
If you paid for a brick at the singalong, but haven’t turned in the form yet, please
be sure to note your form of payment on the form itself. Thanks! Any questions,
please contact Tracie Haner Valentino at tracie@traciedesigns.net.

Jump Rope Club
Tuesdays and Thursdays    7:45am
Our famous Jump Rope Club is still going strong! This is a “come as you want” open
jump rope session for ANY student who would like to come! All you need is a signed
permission/waiver form (students need this BEFORE they are allowed
to participate) and sneakers. Parent volunteers are encouraged and welcome–it’s
a great start to your day, as well as your kid’s! Every Tuesday and Thursday before
school from 7:45AM to 8:00AM in the gym.