A few items...

~ Reminder: No School this Monday, September 1, in honor of Labor Day.

~ AMS is accepting applications for substitute assistance ~ earn some cash while helping out your child's school! See Amy at the front desk

~ Our own Executive Director Steve O' Brien is currently working on his Administrative Internship ~ and on October 1st, 2nd, and 3rd his mentor, Bretta Weiss-Wolff will be working alongside him with his training. Bretta is a former American Montessori Society President as well as a living legacy as recognized by the American Montessori Society... more details on her time in Anchorage to follow!

Big Thanks!

As summer turns to the school year there's one more summer item to wrap up: a BIG AMS Thank You to AMS Moms Stephanie & Christy for all they did these past 3 months for the AMS Playground Bonanza. Thanks to Stephanie, who did all of the craft organizing, purchasing and donating as well as thanks to Christy for setting up the schedule. Many of you came out over the summer to show your support and your kids had a great time seeing their AMS friends while on summer break.

If you see either Stephanie or Christy in the halls of AMS please take a moment to thank them for their generous donation of time and resources toward this fun summer event!

Crafts for your Kids

An update from yesterday:

This week's LAST AMS Playground Bonanza will feature, as an added bonus, a Craft Activity at no charge!

Please come and enjoy the last Wednesday morning of our AMS Playground Bonanza, bring all your kids and celebrate the last days of summer with your fellow AMS friends!

Wednesday, August 20th:

11 AM - 1 PM ~ Frontierland Park

Join us at Frontierland at the corner of 'E' Street and W. 10th Ave ~ across the street from Delaney Park Strip ~ featuring: log cabin playhouses, swings, and seesaw ~ kiddy corner to No. 556 engine

LAST Summer '08 Playground Bonanza !!!

If you don't have plans this Wednesday, join up with the AMS Playground Bonanza... this week's details:

Wednesday, August 20th:

11 AM - 1 PM

Join us at Frontierland at the corner of 'E' Street and W. 10th Ave ~ across the street from Delaney Park Strip ~ featuring: log cabin playhouses, swings, and seesaw ~ kiddy corner to No. 556 engine

Too many clothes?

This time of year you may be checking your little one's clothing for proper size, and figuring out where to take the clothes that no longer fit your growing child. Anchorage's AWAIC (Abused Women's Aid in Crisis) is in **urgent** need of clothing donations.

AWAIC will take all sizes but currently has a dire need for sizes newborn - 4T. The AMS Parent Blog has learned that they have nearly 30 children in this age group (many more then usual) and would be happy to accept any donations of clothing, new or used, at their downtown location. They also accept new stuffed animals (each child is given one upon arrival).

Please consider this current and local need for any donations and take a moment to reach out to local friends beyond the AMS family. You can view their website at the link below or contact their *non* emergency line, also listed on the website. Let's show AWAIC that our AMS Community can come together and support local little ones in need during trying times.

http://www.awaic.org/

Can you believe?...Spread the word!

Can you believe it's already mid-August?!? The AMS Parent Blog would like to remind parents of a few important upcoming dates. Also, with every new year we bring new families into the AMS community. If you have the email addresses of any families that don't currently subscribe to the blog, please forward this website to them ~ that way they can keep updated on all things AMS!

Thursday 8/21/08 at 6:00 PM All School Orientation! Parents, please come and join your child's teacher for an informative meeting on the upcoming school year. This is your chance to ask your child's teacher any questions as well as learn about the new classroom. While we would like to accommodate all children, this is a parents only event, so please plan ahead for childcare ~ we thank you in advance for your understanding and attendance at this annual event.

Friday 8/22/08 AMS Students to meet Teachers... stay tuned during Thursday's Parent Orientation for details from your child's teacher

8/25/08 1st Day of School ~ Staggered start for toddler & preschool, stayed tuned for details

New Numbers...

From the desk of Karen Padgett...

eScrip Progress: April & May 2008 numbers are in. The biggest contributors in April were Betty Ann Eastur Smith & Lisa Gray. The biggest contributors in May were Lisa Gray & TJ Sorensen. Nice going!!

September 2007, $214
October 2007, $276
November 2007, $404
December 2007, $354
January 2008, $360
February 2008, $425
March 2008, $393
April 2008, $271
May 2008, $238

Travelocity contributes 1%! And with those mounting travel costs, a silver lining is that you can get Travelocity to contribute more to AMS J If any of your co-workers travel a lot, consider signing them up for eScrip so some of their travel dollars can be redirected to AMS—again at no additional cost to them!

Amazon.com now contributes 2.4% through eScrip. eBay has increased their contribution to 1.2%. Keep up the shopping!

REMINDER #1: If you’re already registered with eScrip, please remember to also sign up for eScrip “At the Online Mall,” by doing the following at your computer(s):

a) Log into your eScrip account (you can log in using just your email address. You don’t need to remember your password)
b) Click on “At the Online Mall” in the upper right corner of the screen
c) Click on the blue “Auto Track” circle at the top of the page
d) Follow the instructions to download the software
e) Whenever you go to the website of a merchant who participates in the eScrip “At the Online Mall” program, a box will pop
up in the lower right part of your screen saying what percentage of your purchase will be contributed.

REMINDER #2: About 100 AMS families have not yet registered. To register yourself, friends, or family members, simply email the Carrs/Safeway card number to Karen.padgett@alaska.com. If you don’t know your number (usually 11 digits starting with 46…), please call Safeway Customer Service at 1-877-723-3929 to find out what it is or sign up for a new one at any Carrs store. OR sign yourself up online at www.escrip.com!!!

This week's Playground Bonanza + Crafts!!!

If you don't have plans this Wednesday, join up with the AMS Playground Bonanza... this week's details:

Wednesday, August 13th:

11 AM - 1 PM

David Green Park

MacInnes Street & 36th Ave (between Lake Otis & New Seward)

Pavilion-perfect for picnic, large play structure, large field

Craft activities: build a big-bubble wand; make an Alaskan moosey-or-fishy bank, get the sun's help to print a picture

This week's Playground Bonanza

If you don't have plans this Wednesday, join up with the AMS Playground Bonanza... this week's details:

Wednesday, August 6th:

11 AM - 1 PM

Lyn Ary Park
(a.k.a. Pirate Ship Park)

Foraker Drive & Illiamna Ave (N. of Turnagain Pkwy)

Coastal trail, great views, play ship, play structure, climbing wall & field