Hey everyone, don’t forget to come out TONIGHT, Tuesday, February 2, at 7 pm, for our second annual Black History night co-sponsored by our PTA, Page students and staff. The students have been working really hard to prepare some wonderful tributes to recognize the tremendous contributions African Americans have made in ensuring our future. We will also have special guests on hand to participate and entertain, as well. Also, make sure you take some time to peruse the front foyer and APR for written work prepared by our grades 2, 3 and 4 students.

We, as adults, need to do more in preventing accidents and promoting the safety of our young people on our streets and highways, whether they are walking, riding/driving in the car or riding one of our school buses. “According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the United States of America. Using child booster seats for children ages 4-7 reduces the risk of injury from a car accident by 59% compared to using a seat belt without a booster seat, according to the CDC's statistics.” One important thing we can do is remember that Maryland’s current law (effective June 30, 2008) requires that:

· Children must be in a car seat or booster seat until their 8th birthday, unless they weigh more than 65 pounds or are 4'9" or taller.

· the car seat must fit the child by age, height and weight, and the child must be secured in the seat and vehicle according to the instructions of the vehicle and car seat manufacturers.

· it is the driver’s responsibility for making sure all children are correctly buckled up

· these new provisions apply to all vehicles, in-state and out-of-state alike.

· although pick-up trucks have been exempted from seatbelt legislation in other states, Maryland law prohibits children under 16 from riding in the beds of pick-up trucks.

Finally, please note that Maryland’s child passenger safety laws do not prohibit children from riding in the front seat. The exception is placing a rear-facing child in the front seat with an active air bag. Safety experts strongly recommend all children under age 13 ride in the back seat safely secured with a seat belt. Research conducted and published in a report by Partners for Child Passenger Safety clearly shows that children are 40% less likely to be seriously injured when properly restrained in the back seat.

A vehicle can be stopped and the driver issued a citation for a violation of these laws. If you are in need of a car seat or booster seat, contact KISS at 800-370-SEAT (7328) for a referral to a local car seat loaner program. Please assist us in making safety for our children a personal priority.

Quote for the Week: “You cannot have students as continuous learners and effective collaborators without parents and teachers having the same characteristics.” — Michael Fullan

Information on the H1N1 Influenza Intranasal Vaccine Clinic will be sent home in the Communicator Folders on Tuesday, February 2nd. Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Service currently has a limited amount of the H1N1 flu nasal spray vaccine that will be made available to elementary students at the school. Vaccinations will take place here at Page on Tuesday, Feb. 16th, Wednesday, Feb. 17th and Thursday, Feb. 18th from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the school health room. Please call the school health tech, Mrs. Vlacich at (301) 989-5672 to schedule a date for your child to receive the vaccination. There will be only 50 appointments scheduled each day and the vaccination will be given on a first come, first serve basis. You must accompany your child and a signed consent form must be presented at the time of the appointment. Please call the school with any questions.

Parents - the Page Black History Month program is scheduled for Tuesday February 2, at 7PM. If you have any ideas or would like to work on this committee, please send email to andresheilah@yahoo.com .

The W.T. Page Elementary PTA would like to encourage you to volunteer your much-needed time and talents at PTA-sponsored events from which all of our children benefit. You do not need to be a member in order to volunteer and you do not need to volunteer for the entire event. However, without volunteers, like you, these events will not take place. Upcoming PTA and school-sponsored events are:

For more information, contact Amelia McGhee at 240.463.1272 or acmcghee@verizon.net.

Parents, the Yearbook Committee welcomes your candid school shots! Please take pictures in your child's classroom, especially during parties, field trips and any other special events. Email to andresheilah@yahoo.com or leave disk in the PTA mailbox addressed to Yearbook Committee, with your return contact information.

On Friday, April 30th we will once again be holding our Kindergarten Orientation for our incoming kindergarten students for the 2010 - 2011 school year. If you have a child or know of a child who lives in our school area, who will be turning 5 years old on or before September 1, 2010, please call Mrs. Snapp in the office at (301) 989-5672 to add your child's name to our list of new Page Penguins.

Primary Magnet Program – Takoma Park Elementary School

Parents of current kindergarten students are invited to attend an information session to learn about the Primary Magnet Program at Takoma Park Elementary School, currently located at 5701 Grosvenor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814. The TPES Primary Magnet Program offers enriched and accelerated instruction to students who demonstrate academic achievement across all subject areas.

Interested parents will learn how to apply to have their children screened for the program. The screening will take place in the spring of 2010 at 5701 Grosvenor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814. Children who meet the screening criteria will be entered into a pool for possible admission to the program. Limited space is available.

2. The magnet program begins in 1^st grade. Current 1^st and 2^nd grade students are not eligible for the program.

3. The information session begins promptly at 4:30 p.m. at 5701 Grosvenor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814.

4. Before having your child screened for this primary magnet program, please carefully consider if this program, the change in environment and commute is the best thing for your child. If your child is invited to the TPES magnet program, the expectation is that he/she WILL attend unless unexpected circumstances arise.

Direct specific questions to: Mrs. Jean Hockman or Mrs. Toya Wade, Co-Magnet Coordinators,

February 2:	PTA meeting/Black History Night, APR, 7-9 pm
February 3:	Report Card Distribution
February 9:	Community Flyer Distribution #3
February 11:	ESOL Parent Breakfast, 11:45 am
February 12:	SGA Spirit Day – wear your favorite college attire
February 15:	NO SCHOOL – President’s Day
February 16-18:	H1N1 Vaccinations, Health Room, 3:15 – 4:15 pm
February 19:	*Hop for Haiti* – fundraiser for Haiti, APR, 7-9 pm
February 24:	“Read and a Hit Run” Assembly, featuring the Bowie Baysox Mascot, grades 1-3, 9:30am
February 26:	Early Release, 12:30 pm, Grading/Reporting day; SGA Spirit Day—Wacky Tacky Day!
March 1-5:	Spring Book Fair week
March 2:	PTA meeting, Media Center, 7 pm