From the Desk of Mr. Ridge June 9, 2014
Howdy Wranglers,
On Friday, May 30, Lang Ranch Students and staff celebrated reaching this year’s goal for the Reading Incentive Program. The target for 2013‐2014 was for the students to collectively read 3.5 million minutes. As you know, the school keeps a running count of minutes read. At the end of April, our total count was only 40,000 minutes from that 3.5 million mark. When the school started counting the incoming May Reading Logs, the goal was soon surpassed. In fact, the minutes keep pouring in. This year will most definitely set an all‐time record and probably reach 3.7 or even 3.8 million minutes read!
Students celebrated the accomplishment along with some special guest celebrities. Three actresses from the Despicable Me movies joined us. Elsie Fisher (voice of Agnes), Dana Gaier (voice of Edith) and Miranda Cosgrove (voice of Margo) all celebrated reaching the goal. In addition, American Idol singing star, Jessica Sanchez, entertained students with a jolly rendition of “Happy”. As you can see from the photo below, Mr. Ridge got the Despicable Me spirit too.
Pictured left to right: Dana Gaier, Elsie Fisher, Miranda Cosgrove and Jessica Sanchez In back: Mrs. Ridge and her “Gru‐some” husband in costume
I would like to thank those stars for joining us along with many other folks who supported the Reading Incentive Program this year. First of all, Mrs. Tracy and parent volunteer, Lisa Cusworth, did a phenomenal job of leading the event this year. Also, I thank Rick Butler once again for providing us with our rockin’ theme song, iRead. I thank Lauren Sue for her outstanding graphic design work. Finally, I thank the host of parent volunteers involved in this year’s Reading Incentive Program who helped out with the Read‐a‐Thons and celebrations.
At the end of the celebration, 4th grade student, Connor Laveau, dressed as a Lego character, introduced the reading theme for 2014‐2015. Next Year’s theme is “Reading is Awesome!” I send BIG THANKS to Connor for creating the iMovie with stop‐motion characters that introduced our theme to students and staff. What a great way to wrap up the year!
I also send BIG THANKS to the community for their partnership this year in the job of education our future. We couldn’t do it without you. Have a safe and happy summer. See you in August!
Happy Trails! Mr. Ridge
Learn, Laugh, Lead Page 1 of 5 Consistent Excellence
The Weekly Wrangler Volume 16, Issue 38 June 9-12
Helpful Contacts:
Lang Ranch Elementary Main Office (805) 241-4417 2450 Whitechapel Place, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 Fax number (805) 241-4617 www.langranchelementary.com www.conejousd.org Child Care (805) 241-4027 Weekly Flyers: http://www.conejousd.org/lre/Office/WeeklyFlyers.aspx Cafeteria (805) 241-4417 x 275
What’s new next year at the Ranch? PTA Email: (Vaishali Bhargava) [email protected] Mr. Ridge Email: [email protected]
Submission Deadline for newsletter items is Order Your School Supplies 4:00pm Tuesday the week before publication
Online! Upcoming Dates:
Customized Lang Ranch specific school supply lists Wednesday, June 11 for 2014-2015 are now available to purchase online ✱Field Day by grade level at www.schooltoolbox.com. ✱5th Grade Culmination
Ship Directly to your home Thursday, June 12 ✱ ✐ Last Day of School Packages can be customized - Already have 12:30 Dismissal
scissors? Delete them from your list. Need ✱Report Cards Go Home ✱ extra erasers? Add more! Lost & Found donated to charity ✐ Easy to use - register as a Lang Ranch parent and select your child/ren's grade level ✐ Competitive prices
For more information or go to the Tuesday, August 26 ✱Wrangler Round-Up
Weekly Flyers section of our website 4:00-6:30pm
This is a service provided by your PTA and is not a Wednesday, August 27 fundraiser. Allow 21 days for shipping. ✱1st day of School 2014-2015
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Our 2014-2015 Reading Theme: Notes From the Office Reading is ARE YOU MOVING? If you have moved or are planning on moving, but Awesome! continue to reside in the CVUSD boundaries, please provide proof of your new residence to the office. REFLECTIONS 2014-2015 You will need to bring in 2 utility bills (any combination ✽Categories are Literature, Visual Arts, of gas, water, electric or trash only) showing both the Photography, Musical Composition, Dance mailing and billing addresses. Choreography, and Film Production. If you are moving outside of the Conejo Unified School District, please let the front office know as soon as The theme for next year is: possible by emailing "The World Would Be a Better Grace Allen at [email protected]. Place If..." This information is important as we begin planning for the Be sure to encourage your students to work on a 2014-2015 school year. Thank you for your help. Reflections art project(s) over the summer to ensure that our hallways are bright and lively for PLEASE CHECK THE LOST & FOUND FOR ANY MISSING ITEMS! the 2014-2015 school year! All unclaimed items will be donated to charity on the last day of
school. Lost & Found items will be laid out on the planters by the Enter as many times, in as many lunch tables Monday 6/9 –Thursday 6/12 categories as you'd like!
COLLECT BOX TOPS !AND LABELS FOR EDUCATION Want to win a $50 Toys R Us gift card AND help your teacher get money for supplies?? Does your classroom want to host the box tops trophy or win a FREE end of the year party??
Did you know that you could give money DIRECTLY to your teacher by simply cutting the box tops off of items you purchase everyday? Last year, Lang Ranch teachers received over $2,700 from box tops!
Let’s try to give back $3,000 this year by looking for box tops on:
Ziploc bags Kleenex boxes Green Giant Vegetables Mott Applesauce Yoplait GoGurt Gold Medal Flour Avery Office Supplies Cascadian Farms FiberOne products Pillsbury biscuits, cinnamon rolls, etc.
Please put a Ziploc bag on your refrigerator or somewhere in your kitchen to remind your children to collect all summer long. Simply attach 10 box tops to any blank sheet of paper with your child's name on it and bring to Wrangler Round Up on Tuesday, August 26th to receive 2 raffle tickets per sheet. OR, you can bring me your Ziploc bag full of box tops and receive 1 raffle ticket for every 10 box tops collected. Your child could win a $50 Toys R Us gift card the first week of school PLUS, YOU GIVE YOUR NEW TEACHER MONEY! You can also bring in the special sheet attached to the flyer with space for 25 box tops and receive 5 raffle tickets per sheet.
It's simple and a fun summer activity for some kids. Keep collecting and thanks for a great year!!! Please see the Weekly Flyers section of our website for our flyer and Collection Sheets.
Learn, Laugh, Lead Page 3 of 5 Consistent Excellence
PTA Presidents’ Letter, June 2014
In a year full of incredible support from our volunteers, staff, and community, we are so pleased to have brought forth so many successful PTA programs and events!
Throughout the year your generous gifts of time and funding have contributed to the success of our VPA Program (Music, Dance & Drama), PE Program, Classroom Assistance, Technology Support, Field Trips, Jog-a-thon, Fall Festival, International Night, Reading Incentive Program, and so much more. Your incredible support and commitment have contributed greatly to the educational experience of our children and the enrichment of our school community. Thank you!
Your contributions have also allowed us to provide the school with several new gifts this year, the first being an IPEVO device for each of our classrooms. If you haven’t had a chance to see an IPEVO in action, it is an amazing little device that turns a regular whiteboard into an interactive screen ~ pretty cool stuff! We have also purchased a new laminator for the school workroom, and are in the process of purchasing new logo welcome mats for all of the school entrance doors, as well as two Hydration Stations (chilled water bottle filling stations) set to be installed this summer. Thank you again for your help in making these gifts possible!
As we end the year, we wish a fond farewell to our families moving on to middle school. We wish you much success as you and your children enter the next stage of learning. To our amazing teachers and administrators, we thank you for all that you do to inspire our children every day. You continuously raise the bar and we appreciate the exceptional gift you offer our community.
If we could pass on one piece of wisdom from our Presidency the last two years, it is to take every possible opportunity to take part in your student’s life in elementary school… this wonderful time will pass all too quickly!
It’s an overwhelming honor to have been a part of this amazing community at Lang Ranch. We now turn the gavel over to Susan Medhurst and Meghan Turner. We are confident that these two ladies will lead our PTA in amazing directions!
Vaishali Bhargava & Lori Huemme
PTA Co-Presidents
Learn, Laugh, Lead Page 4 of 5 Consistent Excellence
Other Important News
! ! ! ! SAVE THE DATE! ! LANG RANCH ! ! WRANGLER ROUND-UP ! TUESDAY AUGUST 26, 2014 ! 4:00-6:30 PM ! RECONNECT with ! ! WRANGLERS & ! check out CLASS POSTINGS, turn in SUMMER READING LOGS & BOX TOPS Sponsored by your Lang Ranch PTA! ! ! !
will be Rustle up someinks grub! Food and Dr for purchase! ORDER YOUR: available Yearbooks, School Directories, Jog-A Thon Donation & Sponsorship, Reading Incentive T-Shirts, Spirit Wear ! in ONE DAY! ! ! Checks, Credit Cards, Cash are welcome! ! ! !
LANG RANCH PTA NEEDS YOU!
Thanks to the countless hours that our wonderful volunteers put into Lang Ranch each year, we are able to provide our children with fantastic programs, activities, and events throughout the school year. As we move into 2014-15, we encourage you to get involved and join our team!
We are looking for volunteers to fill a few more Committees. If you’re interested in being a part of our TALENT SHOW, TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK OR DR. SEUSS’ BIRTHDAY, please email Susan Medhurst at [email protected]
Learn, Laugh, Lead Page 5 of 5 Consistent Excellence