Girl Scouts: Raingutter Regatta Deadline Almost Here! (And Happy Thanksgiving!)

Hi!

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was one to give thanks for!  

First, I wanted to send a reminder about the Boy Scouts vs. Girl Scouts Raingutter Regatta on 12/11.  The deadline to let me know if your scout is coming is December 1st.  (The troop buying the boats for us is buying them on the 2nd, and will be getting them to me to get to you on the 3rd so you have a week to build them.)  This is a great opportunity for a dad-daughter project, and a great opportunity to show Highland View which scouts have the most hot air!  The only cost will be the boat kit which is $5.50.  You'll get the kit on the 3rd, but we'll collect the money on the 11th at the event.  

Here's who I have signed up so far:

4th Grade

Adrhia F.

Aria K.

3rd Grade 

Katie B.

Lia S.

Gretta H.

Makenzie S.

Kailee A.

Evie S.

One other (very) important announcement:

We'll be repeating one of our more meaningful events from last year, and have scheduled another visit to the Elizabeth Residence Nursing Home to spend time with the residents there.  Our visit will come after our Thursday 12/18 meeting--the nursing home is expecting us at 6:00; our meeting ends at 5:00.  There's room for 16 Scouts that day.  If more girls are interested in going than can fit that day we'll schedule a second visit too.  Here are the details:

Where: The Elizabeth Residence Nursing Home in Franklin (9329 S. 48th Street, Franklin WI 53132)

When: 12/18/2014  6:00-8:00 PM

What:  Visit the nursing home and do crafts, games, and spend time with the residents there.  Santa showed up last year, he may show up again this year...who knows?

You can sign up here, and please indicate whether you can stay and chaperone, and also if you can offer a ride if there are scouts that would need a carpool.  Thanks!

Aleks Skibicki

Wave Game Opportunity

Hello Greendale Kickers and Girl Scout Families,

I just got a flyer from a Girl Scout Troop Leader meeting about a Milwaukee Wave opportunity that should be perfect for us!  If Strikers (or Breakers) want to attend and aren't Girl Scouts (though most are!), then with the power vested in me as Troop Leader and School Site Organizer I will grant you honorary Girl Scout status for the purpose of going to the event.

Here are the details that I have at the moment:

It's for the 1/25/2015 game at 3:00 PM vs. the Wichita B-52's.  

In addition to being Girl Scout day, it's also "Princesses and Superheroes" day so you can wear any princess or superhero gear you want.  

Parents and siblings are all invited.

Tickets are $15 for Premier tickets, $20 for Preferred, or $25 for VIP level tickets.

Ticket area diagram here:  http://www.milwaukeewave.com/tickets/seatingmap

"Before the game there will be a Girl Scout Parade

Girl Scouts will get a Wave patch

There'll be a pre-game discussion with local trainers, nutritionists, and others on healthy living

Participation in fun activities on the field (Troop relay races, Soccer obstacle course, and more!)"

Let me know ASAP, and let me know if you are especially set on a particular ticket level.  I'd like to keep us all together, BUT if some folks really want to be VIP, and other folks really want to be "Premier" I'll certainly accommodate that.  I have to call them to find out if there's a deadline, but for my sake, please just assume the deadline is "extra soon" and let me know if you can attend ASAP.

And Ken:  Feel free to forward this over to the Breakers if you want!

Thanks!

Aleks Skibicki

Girl Scout Troop 8035

& MKSC Strikers Soccer Team

Girl Scouts: Meeting Recap (One more email coming later too.)

Hi everyone,

Just a recap of what we did today (and yesterday) at scouts.

First:  THANK YOU!  To Mrs. Heinz, Mrs. Pogorzelski, Mrs. Schrank, Mrs. Skibicki, and of course Ms. Kelly as always for making this meeting great!  And also a huge thanks to Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Pintar for the snack and drink for today!  You all are the best!

What did we do?

Since the badges we're working on involve seeing ourselves as the main characters in a story that encompasses the whole world, we started the day playing a couple games that girls play around the world that are similar and different from games we play here in the US.  We played a game from Italy called "Cencio Mollo" which is an Italian version of "I love you but I just can't smile" where the girls tried to get each other to laugh.  We also played a game called "Banyoka" from Africa where the girls made living snakes by sitting together in long lines and then raced the snakes against each other.

After that, we broke into small groups and wrote a story where we were the main characters and had to work to help solve an issue we had found in our school, family, community, or planet.  When our stories were written we shared them with the whole group and then the whole group voted on which story we will use to inspire us as a whole group to do a project to help with that issue in real life.  Our Wednesday group voted to work on helping kids eat healthier by finding ways to make sure the healthy food served at school also tastes good.  Our Thursday group voted to work to stop kids from smoking.

In the future, I'll get people who are involved in both of these (probably students in the Teens Against Tobacco Use group at GHS, and the Food Services Nutrition consultant from Greendale Schools) to visit our meeting and we can start putting our stories into action!

Next month we'll be doing something entirely different though:  Ms. Kelly is working out the details, but if all goes as it should, we'll be visiting the nursing home that we visited last year at this time to do crafts and play games and sing songs with the residents there.  That was a good experience for the girls and for the residents last year, so it is definitely worth repeating.  As more details are available I'll send them your way.

Finally, I'll be sending another email in a moment about an opportunity we have for the girls to visit a Milwaukee Wave soccer game with all sorts of extra activities for Girl Scouts.  So check that out when it comes through.

Thanks again everyone, have a great evening!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: Important!

Hello scout families!

Just some important requests and changes and reminders.

1)  From now on, if your scout was registered for an event, and you had the troop pay for the event, and your scout doesn't show up, you will be responsible for the registration fee for that event.  If you give at least 24 hours notice that your scout won't show up, or if I'm able to find a replacement for your scout before the event, that fee will be waived.  There have been a couple times now when parents asked to register their scout for an event, the troop paid the registration fee, and then the scout never showed up.  It makes me sad that there were other scouts who would have gladly filled the opening if only I had known about it.  It also makes me sad that the registration fee was essentially just thrown away.  So, from here on out, if a scout doesn't show up to an event, with no advance notice, that scout will not be able to register for other events until the registration fee for the missed event is paid. 

2)  Please please please, if you're  Highland View scout, write a note in your student's agenda telling which day she will attend a scout meeting.  This way, if you forget which signup genius day you signed up for, or weren't on the sign up genius list for any reason, we'll have a way to know whether to keep your scout at the meeting or send her home.  (Without something recorded from you I can't keep her at the meeting.)  Yesterday, luckily, we were able to reach parents by phone to verify that they planned on having the scout attend the meeting on a day that was different from the signup genius page.   We might not always be that lucky.

3)  Remember, tomorrow (Friday 11/21) is the pool party at GHS.  Parents are welcome to stay and watch from the bleachers if they want. There's no fee, and no registration needed.  So show up at the Greendale High School Pool at 6:30 ready to swim.  We do have access to the locker rooms too, if your scout wants to change or anything like that.

4)  If you're registered for the "Girl Scouts Giving Back" event this Saturday, make sure to let me know if you can't go.  There is quite the waiting list of girls to take your place.  Here's who I am expecting to attend:

Lia S.

Kendra P. 

Evie S.

Teagan A. 

Jes P.

Maya H.    

Caiya F.

This program starts at 9:00, and it's about a 30 minute drive from our house to Trefoil Oaks Program Center.  Accordingly, we'll meet up at our house at 8:15, and plan to be on the road by 8:25.  Kathleen can drive too so our ride situation is a-ok.  Kathleen's willing to sit this one out if you want to drive, and there's room for an additional adult if someone else wants to drive too.  Just let me know.

Girl Scouts: Event Deadline Coming Up

Hi everyone,

I just checked, and the Girl Scout Cookie CEO Sleepover event is filling up fast.  If your scout wants to attend, I'll need to know in the next day or two.

Here's the description:

12-13 Cookie CEO Overnight (All)

6:00 PM 12/12- 3:00 PM 12/13 2014

$10/adult $15/scout

Camp Pottawatomie Hills

East Troy, WI

Grades 2-5

Pitch your idea for the largest girl-led business in the world to GSWISE CEO Christy Brown. Train for the cookie season by creating a new cookie, design and shoot a commercial and shape up your sales pitch through theater games and activities. Overnight includes a self-guided cookie contraption challenge. Includes breakfast.

Here's who I already have attending:

Scouts:

Gabby 

Evie 

Lia 

Teagan A.

Adrhia F.

Adults:

Ms. Kelly 

Mr. Aleks

And as long as I'm typing:  I give the Highland View teachers the attendance list for the meeting tomorrow, so if you haven't picked one yet, pick one now.  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa5ad22a13-november

And, as long as I'm still typing:  We still really need one more parent for Thursday's meeting.  It looks like we'll have 24 girl there, which means we'll need more than Mrs. Pogorzelski, Mrs. Kelly, and myself if we want the girls to get the most out of their experience.  We'll be continuing our storytelling work with a storytelling competition, and the smaller the groups we can get the girls in the better it will be!  Thank you so much!  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa5ad22a13-meeting2

Aleks 

Girls Scouts: November Adventures!

Hello Girl Scouts!

If you open this email Sunday night before 8:00 and want to come pick up your nut sale delivery, I'll be here.  A couple of you already have!  Otherwise, you can email me to schedule a time, or we can meet up after the scout meeting this week to get yours to you.  And speaking of meetings...

Some scouts still aren't signed up for a meeting time.  Please sign up ASAP!  Planning for materials, and even activities is based on how many scouts I'm expecting.  And remember, if you're a Highland View student, make sure to write a note in your student's agenda telling their teacher which day they're going to scouts.  Here's the link to the sign up page.  And speaking of sign up pages...

It looks like Thursday is going to be a popular meeting.  Which means it's extra important to have an extra parent or two to help out and keep everyone on track.  If you can join us from 3:30-5:00 on Thursday, please sign up here! (And if you can join us on Wednesday, we'd love for you to be there too!  Sign up at the same link.)

Finally, let me know if your scout can represent Girl Scouts at the 1st annual Girl Scouts vs. Boy Scouts Raingutter Regatta on Dec. 11th!  We can't win without any Regatt-ers!

See you soon!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

Announcing the

FIRST ANNUAL

BOY SCOUTS VS. GIRL SCOUTS

RAINGUTTER REGATTA

December 11th from 6:00-8:00 in the Highland View Gym, the Highland View Girl Scouts (that includes everyone in our troop, no matter what school you go to!) will take on the Highland View Cub Scouts in a race for the ages.  

What's a "Raingutter Regatta?"  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raingutter_regatta

Hurry, the registration deadline is December 1st!  There's no entrance fee, but each girl will need a boat.  Mrs. Roberts, a 5K Troop Leader will purchase the boats for all registered scouts and we'll get them to troop leaders by Dec. 3rd.  Boats are $5.50 and we'll collect payment at the event.  The boats require minimal preparation, and the girls should have fun decorating them however they like.  

Happy Scouting!

Aleks Skibicki

Girl Scouts: Open Spot for Junior Botany at Discovery World 11/18

Hello everyone!

I just had a girl cancel for the 11/18 Junior Botany (Flowers Badge) Discovery World Program for 4th graders.  Which means there's now a spot open.

Here's the description:

Become a botanist as you dissect a flower and learn which flowers can be made into medicines to help with common illnesses. Design a flower bouquet out of non-traditional materials and find out what happens when you mix the natural world with the man-made world as you vacuum form flowers in the Kohl's Design It! Lab.

We'll meet at our house at 5:15, and be back between 8:30-8:45PM.  

Aleks

Girl Scouts: P.S. Nuts and Candies

Hi again!

I forgot in that last email to remind everyone that as of Sunday I'll have everyone's nuts and candies from the fall nut sale.  

We'll be at a swim meet with Evie until 5:00 or so on Sunday, but everyone is welcome to pick theirs up that evening.  Just call first (423-1224) or email, to let me know when to expect you.

If you can't pick up your stuff Sunday night, then I can also bring a vanload to each of the meeting days that week (Wednesday and Thursday) and you can bring it home from there.

AND, if you're interested in helping out some, Friday and Saturday I'll be managing the Nut Delivery Site at the Tess Corners Fire Station, and could use extra hands setting up and counting/sorting nuts and candy for the troops in our area.  You can see where/when I need help here:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa5ad22a13-tess1

Thanks for selling!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: Big Big Week Coming Up (IMPORTANT!)

Hello Girl Scout Families (and teachers!)

As you may have noticed, next week has a lot going on.  It makes sense to get on top of it right now.  I've included the itinerary and attendance lists where appropriate.   Let me know ASAP if you were registered, but cannot now attend so that I can hopefully find someone to take your place.  (If you're on the list, you were registered, so check the list!)  If your scout isn't on a list, but IS interested in going to one of these events, let me know and I'll make sure you're the first one I call if there's a cancellation.

1)  TUESDAY 11/18 

Discovery World Computer Expert (2nd/3rd graders) and Junior Botanist (4th graders)

Computer Expert

Evie S.

Olivia Kaltenbach

Lia S.

Dea S.

Kailee A. 

Jes P. 

Samantha S.

Junior Botanist (Flowers)

Adrhia F.

Gabby H. 

Samantha W. 

Since we have 10 girls going, and I can fit 5 in our van, I will need a driver(s) for 5 girls.  We'll meet up at our house (4256 Teakwood Ct. Greendale, WI) at 5:15-5:20 so we can get there in time for our programs to start at 6:00.  Expect us to be back between 8:30-8:45.

2 and 3)  Girl Scout Meeting Days Wednesday and Thursday

Wednesday and Thursday next week (19th and 20th) are our meeting days.  Make sure you sign up to tell me which you'll be attending, AND if you're a Highland View family, make sure you have a note in your students agenda telling their teacher when they're going to scouts after school.

Here's the Sign Up Genius page:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa5ad22a13-november

4)  Friday 11/21 Girl Scout Pool Party at GHS

From 6:30-8:30 PM Girl Scouts of Highland View (and everyone in our troop!) have the pool at Greendale High School reserved and staffed with lifeguards for our use.  No registration deadline, but you'll need to provide your own transportation.  (And it is appreciated if you let me know you're coming so I have an idea of numbers.)

5)  Saturday 11/22 Girl Scouts Giving Back (2nd/3rd Grades, working with rescue animals and making toys for them.)

This program starts at 9:00, and it's about a 30 minute drive from our house to Trefoil Oaks Program Center.  Accordingly, we'll meet up at our house at 8:15, and plan to be on the road by 8:25.  Kathleen can drive too so our ride situation is a-ok.  Kathleen's willing to sit this one out if you want to drive, and there's room for an additional adult if someone else wants to drive too.  Just let me know.

Here's the registered list:

Lia S.

Kendra P. 

Evie 

Teagan A. 

Jes P.

Maya H.    

Caiya F.

Thanks!  (And in case you thought I was slacking off, there's a Service Area leaders meeting on Monday I have to go to, so I'll be Girl Scouting 6 days straight next week!)

Aleks Skibicki

Girl Scouts: Sign Up Lists for the November Meetings

Hello Girl Scout Families!

The Sign Up Genius page for the meetings on November 19th (Wednesday) and 20th (Thursday) are online.

Pick your day here:

http://www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0A4FA5AD22A13-november

We'll be doing some storytelling games, and deciding as a group what "story" problem we want to work to solve in our school or community, and then deciding what we will do as living characters in the story to actually solve that problem.

As always, we need parent helpers at the meeting.  If you are available either of those days, please sign up here:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4fa5ad22a13-meeting2

Finally, as soon as you pick a meeting day, make sure to write it in your student's agenda (if you're at Highland View) so we have a backup reference to make sure everyone goes to scouts when they're supposed to.

And remember, if you're on this list, meet up at our house at 4:00 on Friday to go to STEMFest:

Kendra P.

Evie S.  + Driver

Lauren P

Adhria F.

Samantha S.

Teagan A.

Jesi  P. + Driver

Mahi P.

Gabby H. + Driver

Gretta H

Lia S

If you're listed as a driver, could you let me know how many you can fit in your car?  That way I can have carpools all arranged.

Thanks!

Aleks