In This Issue:Ms Mason Letter About Hanna Campus Drop Off/Pick Up Safety
1st PTSA General Membership Meeting
Parents of ELL (Early Language Learners)
Volunteers We Need YOU!
Homeroom Parents First Meeting
Help The Heron Update
Help The Heron Incentives/Class Standings
Middle School Book Fair Is Coming!
Learning Gate Board of Directors News
Creature Feature: Florida Worm Lizard
**NEW** Nature After School Program
What's Bird Banding All About?
LGCS Buccaneer Family Days
Almond Butter Quinoa Gluten Free Blondies
How Is It Being A 6th Grader (Student Essay)
Contact The PTSA Executive Board**Tech Tip** If the shaded links are not clickable on a smartphone or if your images are not showing, try clicking the 'VIEW AS WEBPAGE' link at the top of this e-newsletter.
Please click here for a letter from Principal Mason about drop off/pick up changes being instituted to support a safer experience for our students and our faculty/staff
Our first PTSA General Membership meeting is Sept. 17th at 6:30 PM in Heron Hall.
Some things to remember:- Our meetings are open to the public so both members and non-members are encouraged to attend.
- You can join at the meeting
- General Members receive 1 volunteer hour per parent for joining
- General Members receive 1 parent education hour for attending general meetings.
- Committee Chairs/Executive Board members receive all 30 volunteer hours
- Bring your volunteer/parenting log for sign off
Please attend the PTSA General Membership Meeting as there will be information available to you at that meeting. Here are a few great resources for parents of ELL children.Questions? Please contact cori@learninggate.orgBook Fair (Florida Campus)
We need people to setup, assist students, and take down the displays.
Signup Genius is here
Library Daily Hours
Our Hanna campus library needs daily volunteers. This is a great opportunity for retired grandparents to help your family get their hours while you assist our students checking books in and out! Signup Genius is here,
Calling all Homeroom Parents! The first meeting for Homeroom Parents will be on Oct 1, 2014 at 8:30am in Heron Hall. This meeting is only for parents who have been selected as homeroom parents. We are asking all to attend this meeting to receive important guidelines and instructional information because we've lots of positive changes this year.Our Help the Heron campaign is in full swing and the eggs are coming in fast and furiously! We can't wait until the Great Hatching! Remember, you have until October 7th to donate, and you can pledge to donate as well as long as it's paid by the end of the school year. You can either return the form sent home with your child with your donation, or donate online here: http://www.learninggate.org/annualgiving We are currently at 23% School Wide! .gif)
Someone (who I guess we'd call "Poppa" Heron) made a video to tell you all about why donating to the Heron is so important to our middle school student's Houses
THE VIDEO IS A MUST SEE!!!! Click Below to View.
Learning Gate Board of Directors News
Next Monthly Board Meeting is Sept 15th. at 6:00pm in Heron Hall
If you cannot attend in person, you can attend by Webinar or over the phone.
Click here to register for the Webinar
After you register, you will receive an email with the information to join.
Remember, you can always view the board meetings after they are uploaded to the board's YouTube Channel
Last Monday, we began the Migratory Bird Banding Project for the fall season on the school campus. As usual, we set up our special mist nets to catch both resident and migratory birds as they fly through the woods. On this morning, I never expected to catch the strange things that we did. As we were approaching the last net during one of the net runs, I saw a large bird flapping away. I ran toward the large Red-shouldered Hawk that was caught in the net. By the time I got there, the hawk had gotten away (only to later get caught in a different net) but it left a strange gift. Apparently, it had been carrying “breakfast”. It was one of the strangest creatures I have EVER seen – a Florida Worm Lizard. This animal is rarely seen since it lives mostly underground. It is a reptile that is blind, deaf and lacks much color. At first glance, it looks like a large earthworm but it isn’t. Look closely at the head, which is shovel-shaped for burrowing in the soil. All the students at the Hanna campus got a chance to see and touch this unique animal before it was released back into the wild.
For more photos and information, visit this website: http://www.wormlizard.org/  Come explore our natural campus with Mr. Jim. Activities will include catching insects, dip netting for aquatic animals, bird watching with binoculars and much more.
Days/Times: Wednesdays, 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm
Dates: October 1st - Nov. 19th (8 weeks)
Grades: 3rd, 4th & 5th Grades
Cost: $60/month or $120 total
Limit: 20 students
For more information and application form, go here
If you have questions, contact Mr. Jim at: jim@learninggate.org This is a truly unique parenting class opportunity that will teach you all about bird banding.
Here is your chance to see what the bird banding project is all about.
For five Sunday mornings (between September 14th - October 19th), Mr. Jim will be banding birds in Hammock Park, Dunedin. The details are listed below. All are welcome including children! Make a day of it by visiting the beautiful beaches of Honeymoon Island State Park after visiting the bird banding station.
What: Migratory Bird Banding Project
Where: Hammock Park, Dunedin; 1900 San Mateo Drive (park behind the St. Andrews Chapel and follow the signs)
When: Sunday, September 14th & 21st and Sunday, October, 5th, 12th & 19th - weather permitting 8:30 am - noon (come when you can)
Who: Adults and children curious about the migratory birds that come through our area twice a year.
Check the project blog for updated information: www.hammockbirdbanding.wordpress.com
YOUTH: (AGES 0-16): $22.50 per ticket ADULTS: $40 per ticket (includes a $10 food and beverage voucher)
Forms or online ticket sales due September 22, 2014
http://www.buccaneers.com/schoolprogram/
Buccaneer Brochure
http://prod.static.buccaneers.clubs.nfl.com/assets/pdf/2014-School-Program-Brochure-Final.pdf
 
People won’t even notice that these almond butter chocolate chip quinoa blondies are a gluten-free dessert recipe. This healthy blondie recipe uses quinoa flour. To make your own quinoa flour, grind raw quinoa into a powder in a coffee grinder or food processor. Ingredients
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup smooth or crunchy natural almond butter
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup quinoa flour (see Tip)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 8-inch-square baking pan with cooking spray and line the bottom with parchment paper.
2. Beat butter and almond butter in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in eggs, brown sugar and vanilla. Whisk quinoa flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Mix the flour mixture into the wet ingredients until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs on it, about 25 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 45 minutes before cutting into 24 pieces. Let cool completely before storing.
By Bianca Burgos
School is back for the year of 2014-2015, and I’m starting 6th grade. It's different from Elementary. Middle school has so much more to offer and much more to explore. We have 7 periods in total. We have 3 minutes in between periods. We are at school from 8:05-3:30. It's definitely a long day! Learning Gate Community School is the best school I’ve been to yet. It's also the most educational school too!
In 6th grade there is so much to look forward to. New friends, new teachers and of course: more education. In 6th grade you are considered “The big man on campus," which means you are the role model. It might feel like a lot of pressure, but to me it feels like an opportunity. In other words, you are the one to tell the kids the difference between what's right and what's wrong. You are the one to tell them that they should be looking forward to 6th grade. It's a lot easier than it seems, but the catch is that it comes with responsibility and a lot of it. The whole point is that lots of people see school in many different ways. In my perspective, 6th grade is a chance to learn and get ready for high school. Sixth grade is when you start thinking, "What do I want to be when I grow up and where do I start? What should I want to devote my time to doing?" Once you choose, that's a start to the next phase in your life…so make the most of it.
6th grade is about having integrity and being “the big man on campus”. In 6th grade, you learn about Ancient History: What did the Egyptians do years before us? In Science we learn about the scientific method and how a volcano erupts. In Language Arts we learn the reason writing is good for you and why I should read. In Environmental Science we learn how mountains form and how can we prevent animal extinction. In Math we learn how you use decimals, and how you divide. In Art we learn what is the meaning of art and how can I use imagination and vivid pictures in my art.
That's just a small part of 6th grade. When you think of 6th grade, you might think, "Oh, It's too much for me and too many text books and classes. That's what I thought at first. But, no, it's just opening a few doors and starting a new chapter in life. And that's what I call 6th grade. I've had the most amazing experience, and I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy sixth grade as much as I am right now.
PTSA Contact Information President: Jackie Regan president.lgcsptsa@gmail.com
VP Volunteers: Lisa Levy volunteer.lgcsptsa@gmail.com
VP Ways and Means: Donna Peachey fundraising.lgcsptsa@gmail.com
VP Membership: Theresa Kaupp membership.lgcsptsa@gmail.com
VP Communications: Ivana Sheppard newsletter@learninggate.org
Events/Programs Chair: Kathleen Pogorzelski events.lgcsptsa@gmail.com
Treasurer: Sherri Stedje treasurer.lgcsptsa@gmail.com
Recording Secretary: Karen Elenbaum rec.lgcsptsa@gmail.com
Corresponding Secretary: Jen Weiss cs.lgcsptsa@gmail.com
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HELPFUL LINKS
September Lunch Menu
Online School Calendar School Registration Packet for ALL Students
Hillsb. County Mandatory Form for NEW Students ONLY
PTSA Member Application
Help the Heron Online Form
Online Spirit Wear Store
SAVE THE DATES!
September 17
First PTSA General Membership Meeting
6:30PM Heron Hall
September 19
Frozen Yog. Waffle Cone $2
September 20
Heron Outfitters
9a - 11a, Heron Hall
September 23
Spirit Night at Mekenita
All Day - Includes Takeout
Mention LG and we get 20% donated!
September 26
Spirit Day
& Popcorn $1
September 30
Free Dress Day for 6th/7th/8th grade Student PTSA members
Sept 30 - Oct 2
Middle School Book Fair
Florida Avenue Campus
October 1
Homeroom Parents ONLY Meeting
8:30am Heron Hall
October 4
Parenting Class: Step Back into Lutz History
October 4
Dad's Club Event TBA
October 7
The Great Hatching
United Skates of America
Important Delegate Information A student may not go home with other families unless there is a note placed in that student's permanent record. Please provide the office with the list of delegates who are permitted to pick up your student.
Support LG By Downloading Learning Gate Smartphone Apps
One Parenting hour for downloading!
Support LG by Shopping
Box Tops for Education Sign up here to win BONUS BOX TOPS Labels for Education
Tyson Project A
My Coke Education Awards Email questions to Sheila
Support LG By Volunteering
Lunch Times
Hanna Campus
10:45am-1:15pm M-F
Florida Ave
M-TH 10:30am-12:30pm
F 11:00am-12:30pm
Middle School Lunch Volunteer Sign up Genius is here
Seen Around Campus
Tadpoles Sprouting Legs in Ms Michelle's Kindergarten Class 
Cooking Club Student of the Week: Cassidy is showcasing chopped vegetables along with her BLT Sandwich and Cookies & Cream Truffles. Cassidy always takes her time to make things look neat and organized. She also likes to add color whenever she can. These are both wonderful talents to have when cooking and presenting food!
Meet Kelsy, a "Health Conscious" mother of four - Asher, Gabriel, Sage, and Roman. Kelsy has been helping us serve pizza and yogurt every Friday! She helps make it possible for us to offer extra items for the students. Kelsy recently baked up some Quinoa Brownies for us to try and we had to share the recipe because they were all so delicious! Special thanks to Kelsy and all of our volunteers that support us during lunch!
Henderson Family supporting the campaign! The boys loved to see their Mom wearing a nest head band while passing out the Help the Heron cards.
Take a moment to thank the Help the Heron committee members when you see them in the driveway. They have spent hours behind the scenes to create community spirit as we help fill Momma Heron's nest
Jack in Ms Vicky's Class displays his frog life cycle project!
Thanks to the Prevatt Family for making us this nifty PTSA Membership Thermometer. It's gettin' hot in here!
Erika Hanzelka during her 7th period Improv/performance class
 Mr. Nate Gets Around
Here he is at soccer with the Regans At Gymnastics with Emma |
