Dear Parents,

I want to thank all the parents who attended our Back to School Night last night. It was good to see so many of you here. I want to thank our teachers for their efforts in making this event possible.

As you have seen, we have set up a variety of ways to help support those affected by Hurricane Katrina. We are designating chapel offerings toward one of our Lutheran schools in New Orleans, Thrivent Financial is matching funds toward certain Lutheran aid agencies, there is information in this newsletter about now to donate scrip toward efforts in Houston, and there will be some fundraising through our Thursday Hot Lunches in the next few weeks that will benefit victims as well. I know many of you may be donating in other ways, but please consider the above options.

1. Buy Scrip for Hurricane Victims: We have been in contact with Living Word Lutheran Church in the Houston, Texas area, who is actively involved in helping victims of the hurricane. One need they have is for gift cards so people can buy food and clothing. Please consider buying some extra Scrip, which will be sent to Texas and given to these people who have lost so much. A listing of vendors in their area is in the school office.
2. 8th Grade Gift Wrap: The 8th grade class will be having their gift wrap sales beginning today and ending Monday, September 26th. Attached to this week's Blue Note is the catalog and order sheet. Be sure and order your holiday and everyday gift wrap paper, cards and other fun items. This is the 8th grade's major fund raiser. Let's all join together and support their class.
3. Harvest Dinner: The Harvest Event is off to a terrific start with over 160 tickets sold on the first day! Thank you to ALL for your overwhelming support with both ticket purchases and committee sign-ups. The first meeting will be held on September 8th from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm in the Fireside room. Anyone and everyone interested please come to this meeting. All donations will need to be in by Oct. 15th as we are having an auction book printed for each family attending. Lastly, we only have about 60 tickets left, so reserve your spot now and don't miss out; it will be a night to remember. Tickets will be available in the school office for $60.00 each or contact me Nancy Draeger 258-5599 or nancydraeger@yahoo.com.
4. APT Meeting: The first APT meeting will be on Tuesday, September 13th at 6:30 pm in the school library. We will be discussing this year's budget, Get on Track and we will be voting on by-law changes. Please be sure to attend. Your input is greatly needed and appreciated.
5. Wellness, Hope, Faith: Two of our fourth graders, Megan Perna and Haley Cremen, are raising funds for the Wendy Helfrich fund. There will be blue bracelets on sale in the school office for $3.00. Wellness stands for Wendy, Hope for Helfrich and Faith for family. Wendy Helfrich is a church member who has been disabled by a medical problem that occurred last year.
6. Moms-in-Touch: Moms-in-Touch will begin Monday, September 12th in the Fireside Room. Moms-in-touch meets for an hour once a week to pray for our staff, students and school. For more information please contact Alice Piper at 255-5038.
7. Box Tops for Education: Please turn in your Box Tops to the school office or place them in the labeled container in the staff room. Last year we earned close to $500.00 for our school!
8. Spanish Teachers: As some of you may have heard, we had hired two Spanish teachers for this year, but just this week we received word that neither one was going to be able to work here. If you know of anyone who might be interested in teaching Spanish at St. John's, please contact Mr. Wahlers.
9. PALS Supervisors: If you would be interested or know someone who would be interested in working in our after school PALS program please stop by the school office or contact Julia Mahoney at 738-6444. We still need a few more adults to help supervise your children.
10. PALS Info: The PALS morning program opens at 7:30 am. Do not drop off your children before this time. If your child will be having tutoring, sports etc. after school and will be returning to PALS please notify the PALS staff. All parents must sign their child out of PALS with a PALS staff member.
    
    PALS will be billed out every two months. There will be an hour charge if your child signs in before 8:00 am. There will be a ½ hour charge if they are signed in between 8:00 & 8:15 am or at 3:20 pm.
11. Napa High School Dance Youth Clinic: There will be a dance clinic for students grade K-8 on Friday, September 23rd from 3:00 to 6:30 pm at Napa High School. The fee is $35.00 per person. Flyers are available in the school office or you may contact Karen Smarker at 290-5330.
12. The Scoop From Scrip: We need everyone who just gave us your telephone number to register your Safeway card to E-Scrip to call 1-877-Safeway and get your Safeway card # and bring or call it into the office. They will only give the card owners that information. Please do it today so we can start earning money on your grocery shopping!
13. From the Minister to Youth and Children:
    
    4th, 5th and 6th Grade Ministry: We meet again next Sunday, September 18th, for our monthly meeting of Thank God It's Sunday. (TGIS) We'll begin by meeting in the gym from 1-3 pm to play some fun games. So make sure to wear your tennis shoes and don't forget to bring a friend!
    
    7th and 8th Grade Ministry: Don't forget to join us tonight, Friday September 9th, for "50's Flashback.". We’ll be meeting in the gym from 7-9 pm to play all kinds of wacky games dealing with the 1950's. Come dressed up in 50's attire and earn some points for your team or just be with us, either way, you won’t want to miss this fun event. Hope to see you on Friday!
    
    There is still room on the "Youth Quake" if you would like to go with us. It happens the weekend of November 11-13, 2005 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Concord, CA. We'll be joining over 300 Jr. High youth from all around the Bay Area, praising God. The cost for the weekend is now $116 but you must get your money in before September 20th! For more information go to: http://www.youthencounter.org/quakes/ then look through the links for information. Any questions, please call Steve at 255-7451.