Dear Parents,

We are delighted to announce that our campus will be growing before the start of the 2013-14 school year. The Board of Directors of De LaSalle Academy has elected to create a Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) program on our campus. VPK is a federally funded early education initiative designed to provide high quality learning experiences for preschool children beginning at age 4. The VPK program will be under the direction of Mrs. Heather Singleton. Mrs. Singleton brings a wealth of experience in early childhood education which will ensure that the De LaSalle Academy VPK will get off to a great start. Although De LaSalle is exclusively for students with special learning needs, the VPK is for <span style="text-decoration: underline;">all</span> students. The VPK will open in August 2013 and will begin accepting applications for enrollment in February, so spread the word!

Warm regards,

Ms.  Moreau
<p align="center"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS</span></strong></p>
 <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">HOLIDAY PROGRAM</span></strong>

We look forward to seeing everyone this <strong>Friday, December 7 at 7:00 PM</strong> for our program, “<strong>Where Will You Be This Holiday Season?”</strong>  Students will travel to Riverside Church at 9:00 AM on December 7 on the De LaSalle bus to rehearse for the program. By now we should have your child’s permission slip on file. Thank you to everyone who offered to bring a dessert to share!

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<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">DE LASALLE CHORALE SINGING AT PUBLIX</span></strong>

Members of the chorale will be singing Christmas carols at the Publix located at Fiddlesticks and Daniels Pkwy from <strong>1:00-2:00 on December 8 and December 15</strong>. Stop by to hear our wonderful singers and enjoy some holiday cheer!

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<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">GINGERBREAD HOUSE PROJECT</span></strong>

We will be building our houses on <strong>Wednesday, December 12 at 1:00.</strong> Thanks to a generous donation from Publix arranged by Christina Walker, the students do not need to bring in the foil-covered cardboard for this project. If you are donating “building supplies” for the event, your shopping list is enclosed. Please feel free to send in the goodies any time prior to the 12<sup>th</sup>.  If you are a cleared volunteer and would like to join us for the fun, we’d love to have your help!
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<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM</span></strong>

After school care will <span style="text-decoration: underline;">not</span> be available on <strong>Thursday, December 13</strong> due to the staff Christmas Party. The bus to Cape Coral will run as usual.   After school care <span style="text-decoration: underline;">will</span> be available on December 20.

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<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">PARENTS’ NIGHT OFF</span></strong>

The Home &amp; School Association is sponsoring a “Parents Night Off” on <strong>Friday, December 14</strong>. Enjoy a date night or evening of holiday shopping, while the kids enjoy dinner and a movie on the De LaSalle campus. Please see the enclosed flyer for more information.<strong>   </strong>Please return the form no later than Friday December 7<sup>th</sup> if your child will attend.  <strong>If we do not get enough participation, this event will have to be cancelled.       </strong>

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<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">FINAL REPORT AND GRATITUDE FOR BOOK FAIR SUPPORTERS</span></strong>

Mrs. Christine Haworth, on behalf of the whole school community, wishes to thank everyone who helped make our first book fair a great success. We deeply appreciate that we reached our goal and earned $1,700 in <em>Scholastic Dollars</em> that will be spent on books for the library and literature classes. The following families donated class sets of novels for our literature classes: Matthews, Valentines, Gelardis and Silvers. Thanks one and all. We look forward to years of reading and learning!

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<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">BASKETBALL COACH</span>                                     </strong>

We are looking for a volunteer basketball coach to lead the middle school basketball program beginning in January. If you or someone you know would be interested in volunteering in this capacity, please call Bonnie Ross at 239-245-8212.

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<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">TOY KITCHENS FOR THE DE LASALLE VPK</span></strong>

If your child and someone you know has outgrown his or her plastic children’s toy kitchen, we would welcome the donation to help outfit our VPK classrooms. Please call Bonnie Ross at 239-245-8212.

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<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">RECYCLING ALUMINUM</span></strong>

The Home &amp; School Association is collecting aluminum cans throughout this school year. You can deposit your cans directly in the dumpster located near Appaloosa Lane at the NE end of our property. We encourage you to spread the word to your neighbors, friends, and family to save cans and help us raise money for De LaSalle.

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<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">SPORTS AND CLUB NEWS</span></strong>
<ul>
	<li>Fall sports are now finished. Winter sports will begin in January. Look for information after the holidays.</li>
	<li>The <strong><em>De LaSalle Chorale</em></strong>  meets on Thursdays after school.</li>
</ul>
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<strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">CALENDAR REMINDERS</span></strong>

<strong>Every Friday thru 12/14                 De LaSalle “Spirit of Giving” Days</strong>

December 7                                       9:00-12:00 Rehearsal at Riverside Church for Holiday Program

7:00 PM Holiday Program (Riverside Church)

December 12                                     Gingerbread House Activity

December 13                                     No Afterschool Care Available – Staff Christmas Party

December 14                                     Parents’ Night Off

December 20                                     Polar Express / Snow Day / Class Parties

December 21-January 6                                Winter Break

January 7                                             School resumes