Here we are on the eve of yet another Halloween. Although at CPE we don’t celebrate Halloween, we do have a host of activities timed for this week. If you’ve never witnessed the Sams Valley Mini-Marathon for yourself, you should make the pleasant drive out to Sams Valley Elementary (14235 Table Rock Rod) on Halloween morn. The starting pistol will fire at 9:30, sending six hundred of Central Point’s finest 4th and 5th graders heading for the hills. If you’d like to ride the bus with the class as a chaperone, let me know. We can always use lots of responsible adults around the finish line. When we return to school, we’ll be having a light afternoon. Because the Marathon is likely to be rainy (or at the very least, sweaty) students are encouraged to bring a change of clothes–pajamas even–for a relaxing afternoon munching snacks, watching movies, and playings with electronics. Parents are welcome to pop in, and if you have chips or other goodies to send in, please do!

On Thursday family members are invited to see our three classroom plays in the music room. The Monkey’s Paw, starring Jon M. as Major Morris, Jonah S. as Mr. White, Katie O. as Mrs. White, and Jordan C. as Herbert, will be presented at 9:10. It’s a classic horror story about fate, three wishes, and disfigured corpses–a must see! The Birthmark, “a mad-scientist-slash-chick flick,” will perform at 9:30. Zack P. stars as the eminent scientist, Professor Aylmer, while Emily H. stars as his beautiful but unfortunate bride. Finally, at 10:00, Dakota C. stars as Cyclops and Bryant B. as Odysseus in the famous Greek tragedy, Odysseus vs. Cyclops! Join us, won’t you!

In class this week, we’ll be jotting down new vocabulary words (which appear here, as well as in your child’s binder), practicing our multi-digit multiplication, and wrapping up our bat study. Students are to be reading from a book of choice each night (new Book Clubs start next week). Here’s the math homework for this week: Monday, Oct. 29; Tuesday, Oct. 30; Thursday, Nov. 1st.

Also, don’t forget that you can sign up for a parent-teacher conference (by clicking on the tab up top) and that there’s no school on Friday, November 2nd. Have a great week! Finally, a special thanks to those folks who volunteered time supervising our Harvest Fair booth, and kudos as well to all those who supported the Jog-a-thon.