820 Essie Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30316
Voice 678-904-0051 Fax 678-904-0052
atlantachartermiddle.com
The Weekly Courier Thursday, October 25, 2007
Dear ACMS Families:
Conversation. Discussion. Dialogue.
In a school that values critical thinking over simple memorization, the exchange of information and opinions is at the absolute center of what we do. It is by talking with their peers—debating issues of justice in modern day South Africa, explaining how they arrived at a particular solution to an exponential equation, collaboratively deciding on the blocking for a scene in a play—that students put their ideas out for scrutiny in a way that allows them and others to develop the skill of answering the question ?hy??span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> We support this sort of work by keeping our school small; in fact, our small size is one of the central features distinguishing us from most other middle schools in Atlanta.
Yet there are other ways in which these continual conversations in our small community benefit our students by allowing us to support them and to know them well. For example, by meeting in advisory each morning and talking formally or informally with a small group of students and an advisor, a student can reveal things that may not normally come up during the course of the rest of the school day. We know sooner if a student is having a bad day (everyone does some time), and his advisory can help, even if it is just to listen.
As a teaching faculty, the size and culture of our school makes it common practice for us to check in with one another if we notice a student having a pattern of difficulty in several classes or areas of her day so that we can talk with the student and her parents to figure out what the cause is and determine what the best approach is for getting her to experience greater success and focus at school. Again, discussion is needed.
As a parent or guardian, you likely often find yourself talking with your student about school, listening to his or her likes or dislikes or about what? gone on that day. This conversation may, at times, raise a question for you. What? this assignment getting at? Did that really happen? How come the school decided to do that? In these moments, just like those with students in the classroom, we encourage you to ask someone. We do our best to be as clear and transparent as we can be about daily life here at the school, so if you are ever wondering about something, please ask—me, a teacher, and advisor. In a small community like ours, this sort of dialogue is important to making sure students are well-supported.
Tomorrow morning is our monthly parent and family coffee. Following an all-school gathering at 8:30 in the gym, I invite you to join me in the media center for some of the famous Lowring family coffee and some conversation, discussion, and dialogue with other families and with me. It? what we do on a regular basis here at ACMS.
Have a safe and wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Matt Underwood
Principal
Calendar
Please Mark These Dates!!! (Subject to Change)
October
Friday, October 26 – Parent & Family Coffee – 8:15 AM
Saturday, October 27 – Flag Football Championship Game (at Lovett High School) – 4:00 PM
November
Saturday, November 3 – ACMS/NCS Fall Fling & Auction – 5:30 to 10 PM
Tuesday, November 6 – NO SCHOOL – Teacher Workday
Wednesday, November 7 – End of Term One
Thursday, November 8 – ACMS Arts Night – 7:00 PM
Friday, November 9 – Picture Retakes
Tuesday, November 13 – Dine Out at Six Feet Under to Benefit ACMS – All Day
Thursday, November 15 – ACMS Board Meeting – 7:00 PM
Wednesday, November 21 – Friday, November 23 – NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving Holiday
Reminders, Brief Notes, Etc.
School pictures were given to students during advisory today. Information about ordering pictures is included in the envelope in which the pictures came. The easiest way to order is through the internet at fall.lifetouch.com. Picture retake day will be Friday, November 9.
If you would prefer to receive the weekly Courier in an electronic version rather than in paper form, please email Maria Larson at to make the request. Doing so saves both time and trees!
Please remember to pick your student up on time at the end of the school day or at the end of an after school activity. If you will be late for any reason, please contact the school or the activity sponsor to let them know. Thanks!
If you would like to submit news or information to the Courier, please email it to Matt Underwood at by Wednesday at 5 PM. Courier items need to be ACMS-related.
Can You Help???
See below for opportunities to help ACMS while keeping your volunteer commitment to the school!
We are in the process of creating a way to find out about volunteer opportunities and track your volunteer hours over the Internet. If you have questions, please call Mari Stilson, Parent and Family Involvement Chair, at 678-768-7313.
New Listing: PTCA is looking for parents who can volunteer an hour after school or on a Saturday to help clean up and organize the parent room. If you can volunteer, please call Patricia Garrett at (404) 752-7139 or email her at .
New Listing: Kati Gardner, ACMS theatre teacher, needs help with putting the finishing touches on platforms for a stage. If you have some woodworking tools (IE power saws and sanders) and could help out during the day or this coming Saturday that would be great. If there is anyway to find out if someone is able to bring (and operate) the saws before Saturday that'd be best. If you are able to help, please email Kati Gardner a [email protected].
Interested in tutoring or starting a club at ACMS? Or do you work for a company or corporation that might be able to provide volunteer tutoring help to our school? Please email your ideas to Matt Underwood ().
Do you have one or two hours you could give to the school during the course of the week? If so, please let us know. There are all sorts of small, but important ways you could help out, especially in the office: answering the phone, helping with attendance collection, copying the Courier, etc.
Consult the ACMS parent and family handbook given out during curriculum night for more ways to volunteer at our school, or visit our website.
Thank You!!!
Thank you Jeff Larson for all of your hard work last Saturday on the rooms upstairs!
Thank you to the many volunteers who helped guide the robotics team through the competition season! Special thanks to Addison and Lauren LePlatte and Pam Woodard!
Thank you to Julie Fishman for the donation of materials from the CDC to Fit for Life classes!
High School Transition News
A VISIT TO TECH HIGH SCHOOL: All 8th grade students will be visited Tech Charter High School on either October 24th or 25th from 9-10:30am. We encourage you to talk with students about their impressions of the school!
GRADY HIGH SCHOOL MAGNET PROGRAM: There is an open house for prospective students on Thursday evening, November 15th, at 7 p.m. at the Grady theater. This evening provides a wonderful overview of the communications magnet program and kicks off the magnet application process. Grady is located at 929 Charles Allen Drive, Atlanta 30309. For more information, call (404) 802-3001.
PAIDEIA SCHOOL MEETINGS & VISITS: The Paideia School offers informational meetings at the school for prospective parents at 7:30 PM on November 13, December 3, January 3, and January 16. You may also visit the school on one of its visiting days: November 13, December 3, January 8, and January 18. For more information, please contact Flo Henry at Paideia at (404) 270-2312.
ATLANTA AREA ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS (AAAIS): In an effort to educate families who are planning to attend on independent schools in Atlanta, representatives of member schools of the Atlanta Area Association of Independent Schools (AAAIS) would like to provide a Parents Information Session for any and all interested parents from all five Middle Schools associated with The Luke Project and flag football season. The session will happen right before the Flag Football Championship game on Saturday, October 27th. The theme of the presentation is "Independent Education as an Alternative."
Suggested discussion topics: the admission process, financing an independent education, the role of the Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT), how to research Atlanta area independent schools, boarding school vs. day school, "A Better Chance", etc.
Schedule:
2:30-3:30P AAAIS Parent Information Session* (Aerobics Room,
Wallace Gymnasium-Lovett)
4:00P Kickoff, LUKESPORTS Flag Football Championship Game
(Kilpatrick Stadium-Lovett)
*Refreshments will be provided.
If you would like more information, please e-mail Steve Brown ( [email protected] )
The High school transition resource area is located in the parent and family room. For more information, please contact Kristin Lee () or Crystal McHardy ().
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ACMS Extracurricular Activities
ACMS Sports
The ACMS Flag Football team won its game last Friday to advance to the Luke Sports Championship Game!!! The game is this Saturday, October 27th at 4:00 p.m. versus Drew Charter School. There will also be a cheerleading competition at 4:30 at the same site.
Please note that the championship game is at Lovett High School? Kilpatrick Stadium. Directions to the stadium are included below:
To Lovett High School? Kilpatrick Stadium
From the south :
Take I-85 North to I-75 North.
Exit I-75 North at Exit 256/Mt. Paran Road.
Turn left onto Mt. Paran Road.
Continue on Mt. Paran Road across Northside Parkway. Mt. Paran Road will come to a dead
end at Paces Ferry Road.
Turn right onto Paces Ferry Road. Go approximately one-half mile to the entrance of Lovett on
the right.
Stadium:
After turning right off of Paces Ferry Road at the Lovett School Sign continue straight onto the
campus of Lovett for 1? mile
Turn left at bottom of hill following arrows on sign to athletic field
Continue past the Alan Fuqua Center, pond and fountain on right
Veer right just past pond and go up a small hill
Continue past Mathis Field on left
Arrive at Martin E. Kilpatrick stadium on left.
Band
Please remember that the band schedule is as follows:
Mondays: Both beginning and advanced bands practice from 4:00 to 4:45.
Wednesdays: Advanced band practices from 4:00 to 4:45 and beginning band practices from 4:45 to 5:30.
There have been several students that have been late being picked up from band practice. Please do your best in picking up your child at the end of his/her practice. If you are running late, please call Susie Scarr at 770-480-9498. Thanks!
Support ACMS!
GoodSearch.com and GoodShop.com
What if Atlanta Charter Middle School earned a penny every time you searched the Internet or shopped online? Well, now we can!
GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results.
GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall that donates a percentage of each purchase to your favorite cause. More than 100 great stores including The Gap, Best Buy and Barnes and Noble have teamed up with GoodSearch and every time you place an order, you?l be supporting your favorite cause.
Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter Atlanta Charter Middle School as the charity you want to support. And, be sure to spread the word!
Fall Fling is only a little more than a week away. Buy your tickets, bring in your basket donations, sign up for childcare, and VOLUNTEER!!! Please see flyers included in courier. Tickets and sign up sheets will also be available at Friday's Parent and Family Coffee.
Fall Fling Volunteer Sign Up
The Fall Fling needs lots and lots and lots of volunteers!! There are many different jobs and times for one to choose from. Please sign up and return this form to the school or email Gigi Conner or [email protected] . Questions – give her a call 404.312.3151.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2
8 a.m. Move Tables/Chairs from NCS – Need Trucks/SUV/VAN
Name: Email: Phone:
9 a.m Move Tables/Chairs from Adams Realty and/or ACMS
Name: Email: Phone:
9 a.m Hang Lights at Studioplex
Name: Email: Phone:
9 a.m Move Tables/Chairs from Adams Realty and/or ACMS
Name: Email: Phone:
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3
9 a.m Set up Studioplex (We will be there from 9-4, so please list the time period you can be there)
Name: Email: Phone:
Time:
5:15-7 pm Check In Table
Name: Email: Phone:
7-8:30 pm Check In Table
Name: Email: Phone:
8:30-9 Check In Table
Name: Email: Phone:
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3
9:30-End Check Out Auction Pay
Name: Email: Phone:
5:30-7 Bar Shift
Name: Email: Phone:
7-8:30 Bar Shift
Name: Email: Phone:
8:30-10 Bar Shift
Name: Email: Phone:
10-End Clean Up
Name: Email: Phone:
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4
Time to be Announced – Truck/Move Chairs to NCS
Name: Email: Phone: ______
Reminder: Please don? forget to contribute to Middle School? RAFFLE
BASKET – ?amily Fun?and ?hanksgiving.?These baskets are a BIG part
of our auction. And SO much fun to play AND win!! Be a part of it. We want
to see 100% participation from ACMS!!!
MAKE YOUR SHOPPING LIST AND BRING IT TO THE FALL FLING!!
The Fall Fling is a great opportunity to do your Holiday Shopping and
support the schools at the same time!!!
Auction excerpts FOR THE Students:
1 Night out with Ms. Baker and Ms. Ramsey at Andretti's Karting and Games in Alpharetta for a
student and two friends. At least one round of karting (24-30 laps), multiple arcade games and
dinner as well.
Be our First Principal for a Day with Mr. Underwood!
?hat Student wouldn? want to be ?r. Principal?for the day? He/She will get to handle all that
?mportant?principal stuff!! You won? believe the perks! Your student will get to pick the song
of choice for Mr. Underwood to sing at a morning gathering!! Can he really sing – I guess we?l
all get to find out!!! Be the one to bid and win this great item during the Live Auction!!
The Ultimate Coupon Book! Your Student will receive the soon to be famous
?CMS Coupon Book.?span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> It will include items such as homework passes (yes, maybe a blessing
for you too!), be the front of the lunch line every day for a week, pass to wear a hat to school
(maybe even one for the student? friends too), pizza party at school, and many, many more cool
passes for a student to bend the rules a bit!!! Won? your student think you are the BEST if you
win and bid on this item during the Live Auction!!!!! He/She?l be King or Queen of the
Campus!!
...and much, much more!
Auction excerpts FOR THE GROWN-UPS:
Be Served by your Board Chairs given by Cindy Cahalen and Cat Jaffin---
Pool party for you and 20 of your friends! Bluegrass Band, BBQ and libations included!
Band Party! Given by the Conners, Manns and Kaisers. BIG Backyard band party with
gourmet pizza and libations! We?l even send out the invitations!
Laser hair removal, jewelry, landscaping, professional furniture touch-
up, restaurants, spas, yoga, sports equipment, theater, salons, shopping,
monogramming...did we mention the Hansgrohe deluxe shower
basket?...
St. Augustine Beach Home
Take your little Pirates on a Vacation to our Nation's Oldest City!
Enjoy 3 nights 4 days at Lucas' Lookout - a 3BR/2BA single family home in Vilano Beach just
across the bridge from Historic St. Augustine, FL. The home is situated just across the street
from a great beach covered with shells and terrific surf. Visit St. Augustine's Historic Spanish
Colonial District, the 16th century Castillo de San Marcos - a National Park, Ponce de Leon's
Fountain of Youth and Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum. If a quite vacation at the beach is
your idea of fun then you'll be pleased with the fully equipped kitchen, two decks and widows
walk. Need a little more adventure - take a visit to the Alligator Farm Zoological Park and the St.
Augustine Lighthouse and Museum. Don't forget to stop by Osteen's Seafood (go for lunch and
prepare to wait for the best seafood & sides on the planet!). On your way back home - detour
through Savannah, GA for lunch at the Pirate's House - Arrrggg...
Mountain Cabin Weekend in the North Georgia Mountains
5 days/4 nights at 3BR/3BA sleeps 12! 2 fireplaces, gameroom. Close to
Cooper Creek & Toccoa River. Don? miss this one!
Seagrove Beach House
4 days/3 nights in Seagrove Beach, Florida. Sleeps 10.
Lake Hartwell Home for one week!
Enjoy a quiet, relaxing week in a bright, sunny lake house on beautiful Lake Hartwell!
4BR/3BA home with pool table, grill and deck with views of the lake. Partially covered dock
with lots of lifejackets and water toys! SC/GA Border. 100 miles from Atlanta.
Retail, retail, retail...
3Piece, Relic Boutique, Chickin?Feed, Fiona Lottamore, Metalmorphosis, Little
Blue Frog Works, My 2 Handz Creationz, K's Space, Kheesekakes By Kelli, Bumblebee Press...
Atlanta Charter Middle School
Menu Order Form - November 2007
Please indicate with a ??the date your student has selected to eat lunch in the first column. In the second column, please select the preference of that day? choices (if there is one) by writing the corresponding number.
Remember, your student must be approved for the free or reduced meal benefits in order to receive them. Reduce and Full Pay orders will NOT be accepted without payment.
You may order milk only for your student at the rate of .50 each. Please select those days on the chart:
Student? Name: ________________________________________________
Grade: ____________________
Advisor? Name:_________________________________________________________
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Date |
Days Selected & Preference |
Milk Only |
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Breakfast |
Lunch |
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Thursday, November 1 |
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Friday, November 2 |
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Monday, November 5 |
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CLOSED |
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Wednesday, November 7 |
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Thursday, November 8 |
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Friday, November 9 |
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Monday, November 12 |
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Tuesday, November 13 |
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Wednesday, November 14 |
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Thursday, November 15 |
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Friday, November 16 |
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Monday, November 19 |
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Tuesday, November 20 |
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CLOSED |
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CLOSED |
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CLOSED |
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Monday, November 26 |
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Tuesday, November 27 |
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Wednesday, November 28 |
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Thursday, November 29 |
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Friday, November 30 |
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TOTAL |
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Please indicate if your child is: FREE REDUCED FULL PAY
PRICES: REDUCED: BREAKFAST - $.35 / LUNCH - $ .40 FULL PAY: BREAKFAST - $1.50 / LUNCH - $2.50
# DAYS BREAKFASTS ORDERED __________ X __________ COST = ___________ TOTAL A
# DAYS LUNCHES ORDERED ___________ X __________ COST = ___________TOTAL B
# DAYS MILK ONLY ____________ X .50 = _____________TOTAL C
TOTAL A _________ + TOTAL B ________ + TOTAL C _________ = ________ TOTAL DUE
Please make checks payable to ATLANTA CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL.
All orders must be received by October 29th.
Please retain for your records!
Atlanta Charter Middle School – Breakfast Menu – November 2007
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MONDAY |
TUESDAY |
WEDNESDAY |
THURSDAY |
FRIDAY |
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Fresh Fruit selection served with breakfast |
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1 Scrambled Eggs, Grits Or Dry Cereal Selection |
2 Pancakes, Cheese Eggs Or Dry Cereal Selection |
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5 Cheese Omelet, Hash Browns Or Dry Cereal Selection |
6 School Closed
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7 Buttermilk Biscuit, Turkey Ham Or Oatmeal / Dry Cereal Selection
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8 Cheese Grits, Turkey Patties, Scrambled Eggs Or Dry Cereal Selection |
9 Breakfast Quesadillas, Turkey Bacon Or Dry Cereal Selection, Yogurt
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12 Scrambled Eggs, Tator Tots Or Dry Cereal & Yogurt
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13 Waffles, Scrambled/Boiled Eggs Or Dry Cereal / Oatmeal |
14 Grilled Cheese Or Dry Cereal / Oatmeal & Yogurt |
15 French Toast Sticks, Scrambled Eggs Or Dry Cereal Selection |
16 Pancakes, Cheese Eggs Or Dry Cereal Selection |
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19 Cheese Omelet, Hash Browns Or Dry Cereal / Oatmeal & Yogurt |
20 Grilled Cheese, Turkey Bacon Or Cereal Selection / Oatmeal |
21 School Closed |
22 School Closed |
23 School Closed |
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26 Waffles / Scrambled or Boiled Eggs Or Dry Cereal / Oatmeal |
27 Sausage Egg Biscuit Or Dry Cereal / Oatmeal |
28 Buttermilk Biscuit & Turkey Ham Or Dry Cereal / Oatmeal |
29 Cheese Grits, Turkey Patties, Boiled Eggs Or Dry Cereal / Oatmeal |
30 Scrambled Eggs & Turkey Bacon Or Dry Cereal / Oatmeal Yogurt |
Please retain for your records!
Atlanta Charter Middle School
Lunch Menu
NOVEMBER 2007
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MONDAY |
TUESDAY |
WEDNESDAY |
THURSDAY |
FRIDAY |
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All Meals Served with Fresh Seasonal Fruit Selection. |
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1. Turkey Burgers / Veggie Burger French Fries Cole Slaw Oatmeal Cookies |
2. Cheese / Pepperoni Pizza Garden Salad |
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5 Chicken Tenders / Fish Nuggets Veggie Chicken Roasted Potatoes Corn Muffin |
6 No School |
7 Nacho Salad Refried Beans Ground Turkey Mexican Rice |
8 Chicken Stir Fry / Veggie Stir Fry Vegetable Fried Rice Fortune Cookies Mandarin Oranges
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9 Hard & Soft Shell Turkey Taco / Tofu Taco Mexican Rice Lettuce, Tomato, Cheese |
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12 Hot Wings / Veggie Hot Dogs French Fries Carrot & Celery Sticks |
13 Turkey Meatballs / Veggie Balls Spaghetti Tossed Salad Garlic Breadsticks |
14 Chicken / Veggie Burrito Tomato Cheese Rice Black Beans |
15 Turkey / Veggie Lasagna Tossed Salad Garlic Bread |
16 Cheese / Pepperoni Pizza Garden Salad |
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19 Roasted Turkey Candied Yams Green Beans Corn Muffin |
20 Chicken Nuggets / Fish Nuggets French Fries Coles Slaw |
21 No School
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22 No School |
23 No School
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26 Baked Potato Bar Turkey Chili Broccoli Sour Cream Cheese |
27 Chicken Tenders / Buffalo Tofu Macaroni & Cheese Buttered Corn Corn Muffin |
28 Chicken / Veggie Pasta Marinara Garlic Bread Broccoli |
29 Turkey / Beef Hot Dogs Veggie Dogs Baked Beans French Fries Corn on the Cob |
30 Baked Chicken Mashed Potatoes Green Beans Oatmeal Cookies |